Talk:Essay:Liberal Intellectualism

Question

Examples of not-quite-the-best intellectual promoters of liberal arguments

Who would you say are the best intellectual promoters of liberal arguments? And who would you say are real, rather than pseudo, intellectuals?

Pachyderm 06:32, 5 September 2007 (EDT)

I'll clarify. What that means is "not-quite-intellectual". Godspeed.--Aschlafly 09:44, 5 September 2007 (EDT)

Achievements

I know that this is an essay, and it reflects your personal opinion, which you are of course entitled to. I'm confused about why you say that the people on your list are "short on intellectual achievements." You list, in order,

• A U.S. Senator/Presidential candidate
• A U.S. Senator/Vice President/Presidential candidate/lecturer
• A Governor/President of the United States
• An Oxford faculty member/influential scientist
• A Harvard faculty member/influential scientist/author
• A Harvard Law faculty member/influential expert on constitutional law
• A U.S. Secretary of Defense/President of World Bank
• A Nobel laureate/U.S. Secretary of State/major player in US foreign policy for a decade
• A successful theoretical physicist who led the effort to develop the most important weapon in world history
• A popular comedian and talk show host (not sure who seriously considers Jon Stewart an intellectual per se, but he does provide social commentary, so I'll give you a point for this one)
• An M.I.T. faculty member/successful philosopher, author
• A successful economist who was given the title of Baron for his work

Most people would probably call that a pretty impressive list of achievements for "wannabes or pseudo-intellectuals." While I understand that you don't agree with a lot of those men, it doesn't mean that they haven't accomplished anything. Arguments against their ideologies would be more effective if they were made without trying to blow off their achievements as insignificant.--Bayes 23:26, 5 September 2007 (EDT)

This essay tells us more about the author than it does about the subject. Is ad hominemism not a Liberal activity?

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching:

for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

(Matthew 7)

Godspeed JSmith 08:27, 6 September 2007 (EDT)

The above liberal protesteth too much to the insight of this essay.

Bayes illustrates the liberal love of bureaucracy and meaningless "achievements". He does not list a true intellectual accomplishment. Nothing in his list advanced knowledge or provided any meaningful benefit to others. Instead, as in the Wizard of Oz, Bayes attaches great significance to honors awarded by other liberals. Try to find a true intellectual achievement by any of the listed liberals. Can't be done, so they strive for acclaim by fellow liberals instead.

JSmith, you win the prize for playing the hypocrite card, which is so overused by liberals. You even cite the Bible. Are you a real devotee to the Bible???

Thanks, you gave me good fodder to add to the liberal style entry.--Aschlafly 09:21, 6 September 2007 (EDT)