[MrB]

I’ve been reading “Intellectuals” by Paul Johnson.

“Intellectuals” throughout history tend to be leftists, because their tendency to think that they should run everything runs hand in glove with leftist/communist thought.

Some commenalities of these “intellectuals” of history include
“love of humanity” as a concept, but despite/antipathy for individual humans,
sexual immorality and illegitimacy,
personal financial irresponsibility leading to borrowing without repayment,
and antipathy towards money lenders due to the previous.

[andy58-in-nh]

Your description also contains traits commonly found among those possessed of a narcissistic personality disorder. No surprise.

[bt-99]

Good book, Not his best but his point is valid.
Try “The birth of the Modern”

[A_perfect_lady]

I liked that book. You know, it's interesting, after you read it, to read Florence King's With Charity Toward None, a Fond Look at Misanthropy. In it, she makes (or reiterates it from Irving Babbit) a distinction between what she calls "misanthropy of the naked intellect" and "tender misanthropy." The former tends to be curmudgeonly conservative types who consider mankind imperfectable and best left to its own devices provided it can at least behave with a modicum of decency. Jonathon Swift, Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce, that sort. The latter, however,

despises humanity in general but is ever ready to make an exception for "the real people." He feels certain he could love them if only he could find them--or failing that, transform existing false people into his idealized "real" people through social and political programs of his own making...

Rousseau is who she's talking about in that chapter. It's very interesting.

[ColoCdn]

Read it, too.
Great little book.

Amongst the many fascinating things about his observations, he notes that most ‘intellectuals’ tend to be only children, and narcissistic.