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The Assault on Reason: How Anti-Intellectualism is Crippling Our Democracy

Beau Carter

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Published in How America Lost Its Mind: The Assault On Reason That S Crippling Our Democracy (The Julian J Rothbaum Distinguished Lecture 15)

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How America Lost Its Mind: The Assault on Reason That s Crippling Our Democracy (The Julian J Rothbaum Distinguished Lecture 15)

How America Lost Its Mind: The Assault on Reason That's Crippling Our Democracy (The Julian J. Rothbaum Distinguished Lecture Series Book 15)

by Thomas E. Patterson

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	209 pages

By Julian Rothbaum

In his groundbreaking new book, The Assault on Reason, Julian Rothbaum argues that the rise of anti-intellectualism is a major threat to our democracy.

Rothbaum defines anti-intellectualism as "a distrust of or hostility towards intellectuals and the products of their work, such as science, education, and art." He argues that anti-intellectualism is on the rise in the United States and around the world, and that it is having a corrosive effect on our societies.

Rothbaum identifies a number of factors that have contributed to the rise of anti-intellectualism, including the decline of trust in institutions, the rise of social media, and the increasing polarization of our politics.

The decline of trust in institutions is a major problem, because institutions play a vital role in our society. They provide us with important services, such as education, healthcare, and law enforcement. They also help to regulate our economy and protect our environment.

The rise of social media is another major factor that has contributed to the rise of anti-intellectualism. Social media platforms allow people to share their opinions and ideas with a wide audience, regardless of whether or not those opinions are based on facts. This can lead to the spread of misinformation and the erosion of trust in experts.

The increasing polarization of our politics is also a major problem. When people are divided into two opposing camps, they are more likely to dismiss the views of those who disagree with them. This can lead to a breakdown in communication and the inability to solve problems.

Rothbaum argues that the rise of anti-intellectualism is a serious threat to our democracy. He believes that anti-intellectualism makes it difficult for people to make informed decisions about important issues. It also makes it difficult for people to cooperate with each other and solve problems.

Rothbaum concludes by calling for a renewed commitment to reason and intellectualism. He believes that we need to do a better job of teaching our children how to think critically and how to evaluate information. We also need to do a better job of supporting our institutions and our experts.

The Assault on Reason is a timely and important book. Rothbaum provides a clear and concise analysis of the rise of anti-intellectualism and its threat to our democracy. He also offers a number of practical solutions for addressing this problem.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about the future of our democracy.