Exposing Intellectual Morons

In his new book, Intellectual Morons, Daniel Flynn exposes the dangers of blindly following intellectual elites who support and promote idiotic ideas and theories. Chris Banescu, who recently wrote the review of the book, interviewed Flynn about the origins of the material and the impact its revelations will have on our culture.

Chris Banescu: What inspired you to write this book?

Daniel Flynn: My goal in writing Intellectual Morons is to get more people to think with their brain rather than their ideology. By exposing ideologically-inspired hoaxes and frauds, the book not only rebuts falsehood but helps immunize readers against future frauds and hoaxes by putting them on alert.

The phenomenon of intellectuals justifying dishonesty when it serves their agenda inspired me to write Intellectual Morons. As evidenced by the mottoes of countless universities (Yale: lex et veritas, Harvard: veritas), truth is (was?) the sine qua non of scholars. For too many intellectuals, political concerns now override truth.

How many intellectual morons do you know? As ATS proclaims, Deny Ignorance, yet people are all too often hijacked by these frauds. Just a friendly reminder to watch what you read, and listen to what you hear.

[edit on 22-10-2004 by Jamuhn]

Originally posted by Jamuhn
How many intellectual morons do you know?

On ATS? Plenty.

Well, I don't know any morons personally, but there are those here who cling to idealogical tenets beyond reason and sensibility.

Yeah, magic works allright.

How about people that their hatred renders them blind to any reasoning. like political parties.

It is amazing how many people will fall under the spell of a self-proclaimed "expert".

Sadly, just a brief jaunt through any of the political forums will reveal a frightening number (I left the religious angle out of this because that which is one man's garbage is another's reason for being).

I keep my BS goggles on too.

Peace,
BG

I thought by the thread title Jamuhn was going to expose a few around here.

I think we all fall prey to this at one time or another.

Sometimes I read an article and think ...wow great source. Then in the future I read something from the same author only to find out they don't measure up to first impressions or go off in an entirely different direction.

I'm also always a bit suspicious by specialist who use a whole lot of "jargon" that only the "insiders" understand.

The morons are not the same as the frauds. The frauds are way smarter and exploit the morons who think they too smart to be fooled. Look at how many apologists there were for Stalin.

And for those who don't believe in magic, explain this.....FFFFWPPPT...(pulls quarter from Delta Chaos' ear)

Originally posted by marg6043
How about people that their hatred renders them blind to any reasoning. like political parties.

Nail on the efiing head. Nearly all of the regular Politcal posters are guilty of Intellectual 'Moron-ism' at least once.

Yes, as we read from the article:

For too many intellectuals, political concerns now override truth.

Isn't this the truth?

Truth of self, truth of situation, truth of well a lot of things.

Most of the pseudo-intellectual political blather is ironic. It almost promotes the idea that ignorance is bliss.

Hmmm. I don't know about morons here per say, but there a a lot of those that are so closed minded and rigid that it is beyond beyond reason and sensibility.

If I say that I am a moron, does that effectively prove I am a moron for saying it, or would I qualify for being more of an "idiot" or a "stupid idiot".

Afterall...part of "Denying Ignorance" is to first deny your own.



PS- Wasn't this the most moronic post you have ever read?

Originally posted by LadyV
Hmmm. I don't know about morons here per say, but there a a lot of those that are so closed minded and rigid that it is beyond beyond reason and sensibility.

Touche!

I prefer the term "Idiot-Savant"

I get to have it both ways. Helps explain the times I go off the deep end or do really stooopid stuff and the times I can be smart and insightful.

I like that term Gool. Geee, look what's going on in the political forums right now.

This is another good read that's kind of on the same subject. He's the publisher of Skeptic Magazine.

Link
So, why do people believe weird things? "More than any other, the reason people believe weird things," says Shermer, "is because they want to. . . .It feels good. It is comforting. It is consoling." Secondly, weird beliefs offer "immediate gratification." People like weird beliefs because they are simple. Weird beliefs also satisfy the quest for significance: they satisfy our moral needs and our desire that life be meaningful. Finally, he says, people believe weird things because weird things give them hope.

The phenomenon of intellectuals justifying dishonesty when it serves their agenda inspired me to write Intellectual Morons. As evidenced by the mottoes of countless universities (Yale: lex et veritas, Harvard: veritas), truth is (was?) the sine qua non of scholars. For too many intellectuals, political concerns now override truth.

People often don't like the truth if it doesn't fit their agenda.

[edit on (10/23/0404 by PistolPete]

Since joining you truely wonderfull people on ATS ive come to realise that a lot of the things i had believed to be gospel truth are not at all,i think its because youve heard it so many times you come to believe its true and dont always analize the facts as thoroughly as you should (maybe because we dont as human beings like being proved wrong?) but as long as your willing to take anything on board you end up a better person.I cant stand hard liners who refuse to listen to any other theory on their choosen subject-this is the ultimate sign of moronism,ignorance and stupidity!

Since the beginnings of the Internet,Ats and similar sites there has been an increase in Moronosisim (made up l think) Inventions,conspirices,paranormal and unexplainable events that have yet to find a scientific or explainable truth will always show the people who believe in them to be Morons.
Coloumbus and other explorers of there times were in some peoples eyes Morons.as for the paranormal,ufo`s,whitcraft etc etc etc etc until evidence to prove or disprove beyond doubt Morons are better described as obsessive

Originally posted by Jamuhn

How many intellectual morons do you know? As ATS proclaims, Deny Ignorance, yet people are all too often hijacked by these frauds. Just a friendly reminder to watch what you read, and listen to what you hear.

[edit on 22-10-2004 by Jamuhn]

With this question, you know you're setting yourself up for some insults just to let you know

!

Eh, call me an optomist, but I know a lot of folks around here who are thoughtful, who research well, and who teach me a lot of things! I know a lot of people who aren't experts on many subjects, but who are wiling to research and learn.

There are a lot of people on hear who believe that because the have copied somebody elses words they are more intellectually gifted than people who are not so good expressing themselves through writting.
I`ve seen so many posts by people who have written paragraphs with perfect comprehension, grammer and spelling that it is so obvious it has been proof read and changed during publication and then used by that person as if it is there`s.