The term anti-intellectualism has been gaining some traction in the media lately, but what is it really? According to historian Richard Hordstafer in his book Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, there are three main types of anti-intellectualism: religious anti-rationalism which consists of purely emotional arguments that leave out logical thinking in terms of spirituality; populist anti-elitism, where people have a strong distrust and rejection towards the intellectual elite and the institutions that they represent such as professors; and unreflective instrumentalism, where there is no desire for learning unless it can generate a profit.
An example of populist anti-elitism was during COVID when over half of U.S. inhabitants began to distrust medical professionals. Many attribute the rise of anti-intellectualism as a whole to the far right leaders who have gained more popularity and authority over the United States. Liberal ideals and education have strong relation to each other, so for many people Democrats and elitism have become synonymous. This is especially apparent with the term “woke” being used in a derogatory way to describe someone who thinks about the repercussions of certain actions and tries to ensure that they are well educated on specific issues so as not to offend people around them.
In the movie “Idiocracy,” the human inhabitants of the future are about as anti-intellectual as they come: laughing at the “big” words that the main character (who has an average IQ) says, getting angry when someone tries to explain something like why you should use water to make plants grow, etc. While “Idiocracy” is a very exaggerated fictional movie, it holds its weight in the core understanding that intelligent people are seen as nerds, show offs, or arrogant.
The rise of this mentality is especially apparent in the current administration’s decisions, such as the gutting of the Department of Education, banning of certain words and ideas in legal writing, and a constant supply of insults directed towards the educationally elite such as Dr. Anthony Fauci during the pandemic.
To help you keep an eye out for anti-intellectual ideas, I’m going to list a few: Christian nationalism and the backing up of beliefs with only faith, climate change deniers, nerd being used in a derogatory way, anti-vaxxers, and other statements that challenge science.
Sources:
https://wesleyanargus.com/2025/10/10/the-rise-of-anti-intellectualism-in-american-society/
https://fordhampoliticalreview.org/anti-intellectualism-is-on-the-rise-in-america/