In my social media handles, I expressed the need of educating people of what being an intellectual means since it was proving to be a basic need. A promise is a debt which I am currently paying.
Enjoy.
Some days ago we had a family issue that involved an argument between someone who had a doctorate degree and the other had a degree. I am not going to expound on the issue because it’s not my story to tell. But what I learnt from the heated argument was that having a doctorate degree does not make you an intellectual. Many are the times that we look at people who have climbed the doctoral process and emerged successful yet when they talk what comes from their mouth is pride, self-centered crap and whatever they think they have. We expect a lot more from someone who had the time and patience to go through the doctoral process. I mean it involves a lot of research and accumulating a tremendous amount of information new and old. What I am saying is that, having attained some level of education does not guarantee that you are an intellectual or having a wealth of information. And if you still have the same idea I urge you to stop thinking so primitively.
It’s so sad that there are doctorates who are not intellectuals, just like there are leaders who are not about leading but personal vendettas, just like there are gospel singers who are not about singing for God.
The meaning of being an intellectual according to Wikipedia-thank God for Wikipedia-is a person who engages in critical thinking, research and reflection about society and proposes solutions for its normative problems.
I am going to simplify this for you in a minute.
According to Doctor Ibram Kendi, to be specific his commencement speech in the University of Florida, he defines an intellectual person as someone; with a tremendous desire to know, has a capacity to change their mind on matters to self-reflect, self-critique and are governed by a special interest. That special interest is rarely self-serving. That special interest is of finding and revealing the truth.
That is as simple as it gets.
Intellectuals are nomadic people, constantly changing their conceptual location, constantly in search of a better conceptual space. They are constantly working out their minds, regularly breaking down old ideas to allow new and better ideas. Anthony J. D’Angelo said “Develop a passion for learning, if you do, you will never cease to grow.”
No matter how many titles you add to your name as long as you are not someone; with a tremendous desire to know, have a capacity to change your mind on matters to self-reflect, self-critique and are governed by a special interest of finding and revealing the truth then you are not an intellectual.
Let’s refrain from being anti-intellectuals. After all in the class of intellectuals you do not necessarily need education. The class is very accommodating. They do not care about the status quo, your background, your religion or your race, you are all celebrated.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow ,learn as if you were to live forever”-Mahatma Gandhi.
A penny for your thoughts .