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Revision as of 18:30, 8 May 2004 by Wetman (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Elitism is the belief that an elite - or small body of expert persons - are the only people whose views on a matter are to be taken seriously. The views of the majority of people who do not belong to the elite are worthless because they are deemed ignorant or incompetent.
Conversely, from the elite point-of-view, the facile cry of "elitism" sounds like the resentful bleat of mediocrity in the face of competence. The elite perspective of the opening paragraph is that when ignorance and incompetence are permitted to suppress education and expertise, society is compromised. "Elitist" is often confused with "elite," making any informed recognition of a canon, perceived as submission to cultural tyranny, or any expression of intrinsic superior quality appear as if it were a form of snobbism. The elite apply the principles of democracy where they apply, not to brain surgery, or to the characteristics of a candidate currently expressed as "electability."
"Sentimentality" is a point-of-view that applies righteous emotions to situations where they are inappropriate. "Sentimental democracy" misapplies democratic principles.
The term 'elitist' is often used rather vaguely as a criticism of political and cultural attitudes thought to encourage the exclusion of large numbers of people from decision-making.
See also: anti-intellectualism, academic elitism
Elitism in the context of education is the belief or practice of restricting or at least concentrating attention to the best students, the rest being deemed unworthy of attention.