intellectualism

American  

[in-tl-ek-choo-uh-liz-uhm] / ˌɪn tlˈɛk tʃu əˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. devotion to intellectual pursuits.

2. the exercise of the intellect.

3. excessive emphasis on abstract or intellectual matters, especially with a lack of proper consideration for emotions.

4. Philosophy.

   1. the doctrine that knowledge is wholly or chiefly derived from pure reason.

   2. the belief that reason is the final principle of reality.

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intellectualism British  

/ ˌɪntɪˈlɛktʃʊəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. development and exercise of the intellect

2. the placing of excessive value on the intellect, esp with disregard for the emotions

3. philosophy

   1. the doctrine that reason is the ultimate criterion of knowledge

   2. the doctrine that deliberate action is consequent on a process of conscious or subconscious reasoning

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Other Word Forms

• intellectualist noun
• intellectualistic adjective
• intellectualistically adverb
• nonintellectualism noun
• overintellectualism noun

Etymology

Origin of intellectualism

First recorded in 1820–30; intellectual + -ism