Intellectualism denotes the use, development, and exercise of the
intellect; the practice of being an
intellectual; and the Life of the Mind. In the field of
philosophy, “intellectualism” occasionally is synonymous with “
rationalism”, that is, knowledge mostly derived from
reason and ratiocination. Socially, “intellectualism” negatively connotes: single-mindedness of purpose (“too much attention to thinking”) and emotional coldness (“the absence of affection and feeling”).