Intellectual Arrogance

This is one thing that has really bothered me lately as I've been doing some reading for my upcoming PhD seminars (which, by the way, yikes!). Nothing makes me want to completely ignore the opinion of someone more than when they turn down their prefrontal cortex at those who are on the other side of the philosophical fence from their belief system.

It is one thing to have an opinion that is divergent from someone else, and to express the evidences and progression of thoughts through which you arrived at your conclusions. It is even another thing to be fully convinced that you are right by way of your intellectual processes, and be fully convinced that those who hold divergent views are wrong. It is quite another thing to question the intelligence, character, or sanity of all who disagree with you, on no other grounds than the fact that they disagree with you. To pull the "thoughtless yokel" card when defending your views, in my opinion, quite heartily discredits your ability to separate emotion and intellect for the sake of "a good, clean, intellectual fight." Those who are willing to sever their integrity to try to prove a point, in my opinion, should have very few expectations of believing that anyone will listen to them beyond the name calling to anything that may be relevant or profound about their opinions.

That's my vent for the day.