Bad thing Quote by Thomas M. Nichols
““Ordinary Americans might never have liked the educated or professional classes very much, but until recently they did not widely disdain their actual learning as a bad thing in itself. It might even be too kind to call this merely “anti-rational”; it is almost reverse evolution, away from tested knowledge and backward toward folk wisdom and myths passed by word of mouth—except with all of it now sent along at the speed of electrons.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “The Rise of Anti‑Rationalism”, Journal of Cultural Studies, 2021
Society is moving away from evidence‑based knowledge toward unverified folk wisdom spread rapidly online.
In simple terms: People favor myths over facts online.
Key Takeaway
Promote critical thinking.
Themes
culture
knowledge
technology
misinformation
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
analytical
cautionary
When to use this quote
- educational reform
- media literacy
- public discourse
- policy making
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
information overload
digital media
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we encourage evidence‑based reasoning?
- What safeguards protect knowledge?
A Different Perspective
People still value scientific knowledge; change is gradual.
