Does intellectualism lead to narcissism?

[beeksc1]

Many historical and modern-day teachers, shamans, and storytellers, etc. believe in and practice humility; those kind of people basically see each other as brother and sister. Nonetheless, a person can get the impression that: people who think that science is the only way toward truth, the people who are all gung-ho about behavioral observation, the people who are "high-class" authors (Pinter's No Man's Land), etc. are the kind of people who are a "high risk" population toward the formation of a perspective that is narcissistic in quality. No doubt that empiricism leads to revolutionary machines and is the supreme method to test a hypothesis; yet...

Some teachers, mentors, coaches are definitely hip, down-to-earth, and approachable; but, then, is there an increased likelihood that people who basically seek a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, as compared to people who are more simple-minded, will develop narcissistic views, especially in modern-day society?

Side note: Generally, I think very highly of Ayn Rand; yet...

Does intellectualism tend to lead to a narcissism?
Or
Does intellectualism often lead to the us (scholars) verses them (more simple-minded folk) mentality?

 

[maxfrost]

Does intellectualism lead to narcissism? Only if you become obsessed with being an intellectual, in which case it's no different than any other obsession.

 

[borealys]

I dunno, I've encountered some anti-science folk, both of the religious and the quack variety, who had a lot of arrogance and a driving us-versus-them mentality.

That kind of thinking is a risk that comes, I suspect, in any pursuit that involves seeking truth. Science and intellectualism are no exception, of course.

Jerks, snobs and bigots are everywhere. So are hip, approachable, open-minded people.

 

[joobz]

It is possible to be competitively humble. A more-humble-than-thou behavior results. In these cases, I'd say even humility can lead to narcissism.

 

[Piggy]

It's kinda hard to be narcissistic when you realize that you're a cosmic accident no bigger than a dust speck that exists for an eyeblink and then vanishes without a trace and leaves no discernable impression on the cosmos which itself will likely vanish without a trace and every other critter of your species is, for all intents and purposes, indistinguishable from you and your life has no purpose or meaning but you're doomed to live with a brain that continually demands both purpose and meaning out of life but there's none to be had.

 

[beeksc1]

^ It seems that is not possible to be entirely humble. And Joobs' "humility can lead to narcissism" statement basically sums up Nietzsche's Antichrist rebuttal of Christian pity; and that argument is legitimate. And I mostly agree with it.

Ok, Piggy... your comment reminds me of that Simpsons' introduction, where the picture is viewing a tiny particle on Homer's hair, then the view progressively pulls back, views the family, the house, the subdivision, etc, the world, the milky way, the universe, until the view arrives back on a tiny particle of someone else' head.

 

[Piggy]

Ok, Piggy... your comment reminds me of that Simpsons' introduction, where the picture is viewing a tiny particle on Homer's hair, then the view progressively pulls back, views the family, the house, the subdivision, etc, the world, the milky way, the universe, until the view arrives back on a tiny particle of someone else' head.

Yeah, except cut that last scene.

 

[Tricky]

No, they're totally unrelated. Incredibly stupid people are capable of self-love just as much as incredibly smart people. Maybe even more for incredibly stupid people, because they are not smart enough to realize that they're not that lovable.

 

[fuelair]

Anything can lead to Narcissism. Depends on the person, not the specific thing that makes them love themselves.

 

[fuelair]

Has anybody seen my mirror? I'd really like it back!!!!!!!!!

 

[D'rok]

It's kinda hard to be narcissistic when you realize that you're a cosmic accident no bigger than a dust speck that exists for an eyeblink and then vanishes without a trace and leaves no discernable impression on the cosmos which itself will likely vanish without a trace and every other critter of your species is, for all intents and purposes, indistinguishable from you and your life has no purpose or meaning but you're doomed to live with a brain that continually demands both purpose and meaning out of life but there's none to be had.

In other news...




(language nsfw)

 

[Tricky]

Has anybody seen my mirror? I'd really like it back!!!!!!!!!

Galadrial borrowed it.

 

[Piggy]

Galadrial borrowed it.

Now THERE'S a creature that deserves to be narcissistic!

 

[Gurdur]

... Side note: Generally, I think very highly of Ayn Rand; yet...

Ayn Rand was total crap, beginning to end.

Does intellectualism tend to lead to a narcissism?

Over-intellectualism certainly has a very strong tendency to result in mere narcissism.

Does intellectualism often lead to the us (scholars) verses them (more simple-minded folk) mentality?

It often does; but sometimes intellectualism is on the side of the people against the idealogues.

See "The Closing of the American Mind" by Allen Bloom for examples of the latter.

 

[Piggy]

Ayn Rand was total crap, beginning to end.

That's not fair.

Ayn Rand was actually crap before the beginning, and is still crap well after the end.

I demand an apology!

 

[Gurdur]

That's not fair.

Any Rand was actually crap before the beginning, and is still crap well after the end.

I demand an apology!

Granted and granted. Although when you claim "any Rand", open to argument. Rand Corporation did OK for itself for a while.

 

[Piggy]

Although when you claim "any Rand", open to argument.

Thank you. Corrected.

 

[beeksc1]

Two variable entirely unrelated? Is that possible? I can buy the argument that "there is no statistically significant correlation between intellectualism (or over-intellectualism) and narcissism."; but to say the variables have absolutely no relation to one another seems like a gross simplification. And yes, farmer Joe has tendencies toward an unhealthy, arrogant love of self, just as any person does. But to be aware of the tendency, perhaps, is half the battle.

Ayn Rand... crap?
I know I have not written a novel like The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged.
Just because a person thinks highly of another does not necessarily mean that he entirely agrees with that person's philosophy; she is just a mirrored image of what her philosophy is all about.

Allan Bloom

Music is the medium of the human soul in its most ecstatic condition of wonder and terror. Nietzsche, who in large measure agrees with Plato's analysis, says...that a mixture of cruelty and coarse sensuality characterized this state... Music is the soul's primitive and primary speech... without articulate speech or reason. It is not only not reasonable, it is hostile to reason.

 

[Gurdur]

... Ayn Rand... crap?

Total crap. By any standards; by literary standards or by philosophical standards. Or by sheer logic standards.

I know I have not written a novel like The Fountainhead or Atlas Shrugged.

Count yourself lucky. Not to have done something awful is also an accomplishment.

Allan Bloom

Read his book, and read where he and his students used Plato and the ideal of academic freedom (i.e. intellectualism) in favour of being against rigid ideology and seperatism / de facto segragationalism, he and his students promoting moderation, thought and mutualism instead. On the side of ordinary people against ideologues.

 

[thesyntaxera]

Ayn Rand was total crap, beginning to end.

Ha! You obviously didn't understand her. How could you not agree that altruism is a cardinal sin, and that her views on gender roles and homosexuality are the gospel truth?

Yeah, I kid...

Over-intellectualism certainly has a very strong tendency to result in mere narcissism.

I think that the tendency to be narcissistic is present in a lot of places. You can have a really unintelligent person, and they can still be narcissistic, at least in my experience. I think what you are refering to is educated peoples tendency toward pretentiousness...and really it's usually only a couple of A-holes. Although, it usually only the ones that know just enough to sound smart.

It often does; but sometimes intellectualism is on the side of the people against the idealogues.

I think the roles are frequently interchangeable. Personally speaking, I get a little leary when people, particularly intellectuals, go off on me trying to get me to buy their most current existential-post modern-theory of everything...I tend to find comfort in the meaning of the phrase "Shut up and Calculate!".