In my desire to discover the true definition of "intellectualism," I discovered absolutely nothing at all except that it can't be defined. I was thrust into a sea of confusion and gasped to the surface wondering, why should I care? Aren't we all intellectuals? Aren't we all students, thinkers, the prized possessions of academia?
Does the fact that we like to indulge in superficial conversations from time to time and bathe in the ecstasy of late night frat basements make us anti-intellectuals? What's it all about Alfie? What's it all about?
This whole debate of "intellectualism" was partially prompted by Tom Atwood '08 when he wrote the editorial in this paper, called "In Search of Intellectualism" in which he called intellectualism at Dartmouth "as bleak as four inches of snow in April." He pointed to the fact that "students on campus don't have a lot to talk about" and that there is an "overwhelming culture of conformity."
While the idea of Dartmouth students not having enough to talk about can be called ridiculous, Atwood was laid back in person and elaborated on his idea in a less pompous way.
"I think intellectualism is related closely to the fact that Dartmouth students are afraid to express their own opinions," Atwood said.
The unwillingness to express ideas outside of the classroom is something that David Glovsky '08 also recognizes at Dartmouth. Glovsky wrote a column entitled "Misplaced Intellectualism" in this newspaper.
"I think there are a lot of type-A thinkers at Dartmouth who have their own opinions," Glovsky said. "People don't want to be told they are wrong and at the same time it can be kind of uncomfortable to argue."
In his article in the Dartmouth Free Press, "A Confederacy of Dunces: Intellectualism at Dartmouth," Brian May '10 argued that students are afraid to express opinions because they have a fear of being deemed pretentious.
When asked to clarify his idea, May said, "Pretentiousness is definitely a negative thing, and I think we, as intellectual students, must be careful when walking the line between intelligent thought and pretentiousness: Pretentious people are usually narrow-minded and have a certain air of self-importance about them. That said, I feel that many students here are too quick to deem something or someone as pretentious, almost in an effort to rationalize their own superficial behavior."
But what is intellectualism, exactly? In a conversation in Collis over late night pasta and chicken fingers, Glovsky defined intellectualism as "searching for something more than opinions." According to Glovsky, "intellectualism is a search for some kind of truth."
But what is truth? How can we get vaguer than that? In order to get a better look at the intellectual idea of truth I decided to talk to Philosophy Professor Walter Sinnott-Armstrong.
When I described the content of the editorials to Sinnott-Armstrong he had a clear reply. "I think it would be a useful message to send that there are intellectual pockets at Dartmouth and one of them is the philosophy department," Sinnott-Armstrong said.
"Our students have a weekly discussion and put out a journal. I'm sure any college campus has and should have diversity. If you want intellectualism you need to seek it out. Seek and you shall find. "
So I sought in the form of attending the Aporia weekly lunch discussion. This week's topic was centered on plastic surgery and selling kidneys. When I walked in they smiled at me. "Welcome! Welcome!"
However, when we went around introducing ourselves and I told them that I was writing an article on intellectualism, I was met with groans, sighs and the rolling of eyes.
Nevertheless, I participated in the discussion. While I found it to be an intelligent, stimulating student discussion, it was not something I hadn't seen before. There was no eureka moment for me. "Oh! So this is intellectualism!" I have had equally deep conversations with my friends amidst boxes of EBAs. The only difference is that this Aporia discussion was planned, so there was a guaranteed repartee of ideas.
Next I decided to talk to English Professor J. Martin Favor to get his opinion on intellectualism.
While Favor acknowledged that his experience with students was largely focused on the classroom, he sees evidence of intellectualism outside of the classroom. "It seems to me that a number of students like to think carefully and complexly about questions even when they aren't sitting right in front of me," Favor said. "Some go on to be 'professional' intellectuals, so they must have some sort of community in which they can find the pleasure of intellectual exchange."
Indeed the feeling of community at Dartmouth is what differentiates Dartmouth from other Ivy League institutions. Dartmouth students are known for our balance of work and play. Perhaps the idea of "work hard, play hard" simply highlights our balance between intellectual pursuits and the ragey college lifestyle that we only get the chance to have once.
In a last attempt to uncover the true definition of intellectualism I pursued the most anti-intellectual form of truth imaginable: urbandictionary.com. The number one definition for intellectual was "a person who has found something more interesting than sex and alcohol." One of the most concrete things I'd heard or seen in my search.
Dartmouth does have a healthy appetite for sex and alcohol, and Glovsky acknowledges the value in the Dartmouth lifestyle.
"I think the nice thing about Dartmouth is that people don't take themselves too seriously," Glovsky said. "They don't feel like they have to be intellectual all the time. If there is something you really want to talk about, then great, but don't be intellectual for the sake of being intellectual."
