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How to be intellectual without being intellectual 101:
First, we learn to make fuzzy generalizations which sound applicable to the subject, but actually contain no rational content.
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Sample encounter 1:
Intellectual: "For Maurras and his followers, however, Nietzsche was a ?great barbarian? whose work, despite its errors, was a useful antidote to the poison of ?revolution? (socialism)."
You: "Hey, Nietzche brought us some major innovations, I'll be the first to admit that, but his methods were and are flawed from a scientific point of view."
Intellectual: "Hmmmm..."
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Sample encounter 2:
Intellectual: "It is remarkable that the theory of relativity gave us the means to define absolute value of energy and the quantum theory enables us to define absolute value of entropy!"
You: "Hey, Einstein brought us some major innovations, I'll be the first to admit that, but his methods were and are flawed from a scientific point of view."
Intellectual: "Um, his methods were flawed? You reject relativity"
You: "Ah ha! Notice I said 'Major innovations', does that imply I reject ALL of Einsteins work?! Huh? Huh?"
Intellectual: "Hmmm.."
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Yes, you too can hold impressive conversations on subjects you never knew you knew anything about.
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