If you exclude reading, writing, speaking, and listening (ie use of language, including math or code) as mere table stakes, how would you define “intellectual” in terms of essential non-language behaviors that non-intellectuals typically don’t exhibit?
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An intellectual computes a function not efficiently computable by a non-intellectual—because of having key state (from canon, grand tour), or computational superiority.
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Canon = language input. Which leaves your definition resting on grand tour alone (by which I assume you mean actual wide-ranging travel)
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Oh! I misunderstood, because that function is from linguistic input to output. I don’t think I could be convinced of an intellectual with a vow of silence.
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I’m not saying they don’t use language. I’m saying that such use cannot be part of the definition I’m looking for. It’s like asking “what besides above-average height characterizes basketball players?”
I’m blocking out the obvious bit.
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I can’t tell whether you’re asking “except height” or “except playing basketball”
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So you’re saying “intellectual” is as finitely circumscribed an activity as basketball? Intellectualism *is* use of language the way basketball is playing basketball?
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