"Anti-intellectualism has long been the anti-Semitism of the businessman"

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.'s quote, "Anti-intellectualism has long been the anti-Semitism of the businessman", can be unpacked as a provocative commentary on the suspicion or disdain that particular groups hold towards intellectuals and their concepts, comparable to the bias and stereotypes directed at Jewish people. Both anti-intellectualism and anti-Semitism represent forms of predisposition that scapegoat entire communities-- intellectuals and Jews respectively-- often blaming them for societal or financial concerns.

The expression captures the idea that just as anti-Semitism unfairly targets Jews, blaming them for a range of social issues due to longstanding stereotypes and misconceptions, anti-intellectualism targets academics and thinkers, blaming them for impracticality or elitism. Schlesinger indicates that business owners, generally concerned with earnings and performance, may view intellectuals with suspicion because they think intellectual discourse leads to complexity and ambiguity rather than useful, straightforward services.

This example recommends that business people might turn to anti-intellectualism when they feel threatened by the capacity for intellectuals to challenge recognized norms or propose modifications that could interfere with existing organization practices. The anti-Semitism contrast intensifies this review by highlighting the unreasonable nature of such biases and how they can end up being entrenched, damaging social understanding and progress.

By linking anti-intellectualism to anti-Semitism, Schlesinger mentions that both forms of predisposition can cause a harmful scapegoating that neglects complex realities in favor of simplistic descriptions. This is not just damaging to those targeted but may also hinder innovation, vital thinking, and social progress. Basically, Schlesinger is cautioning against the threats of dismissing sophisticated thinking and diverse viewpoints, motivating a more open and thoughtful dialogue between organization interests and intellectual pursuits. This analysis triggers reflection on how predispositions can weaken collaboration and understanding in between different sectors of society.