You ever notice how philosophers can’t help but look down on the masses?
I mean, it’s not even subtle. They’ll talk about “common people” like you’re a bunch of babbling idiots who wouldn’t know a metaphysical question if it hit you in the face.
You don’t think about the world, they say.
They know better. They’re the thinkers, you’re the…well, you’re the unwashed masses.
You might get a side glance from them, but not much more. Maybe they’ll throw you a crumb, a quote from Nietzsche or some Kierkegaard to make you feel included.
But let’s break it down and understand why philosophers put themselves on that pedestal.
Here are seven points to consider, some sharp, some blunt, and some as absurd as the philosophers who love them.
1. Because They’re Not You, But They Really Wish They Were
A philosopher can’t help but see themselves as a cut above.
After all, they have studied the world. They read books that make regular people’s eyes glaze over. They’ve spent years—YEARS—contemplating abstract nonsense that you wouldn’t care about unless it was wrapped in a 30-second TikTok video.
They’ve seen the light, you’re still groping around in the dark.
That’s how they see it.
They’ve been to school, you haven’t.
They’ve got degrees, and you’ve got bills to pay.
That’s a gap big enough to make you think they could float above the earth.
2. The “Common” People Don’t Think
Or, at least that’s what they’ll tell you. They love to make it sound like the common folk just go about their day, eating, drinking, working, and not thinking about the cosmos.
The nerve! As if people aren’t busy enough just trying to stay afloat, worrying about rent, their family, and which reality show is trending.
No, no, for the philosopher, that’s all mere distraction. The truth?
Well, that’s their job to uncover. And the common person? They’re stuck in the muck of ignorance, pretending to be happy with their simple lives.
But here’s the thing: what’s the truth, really? Is it in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, or in the simple joy of a dog chasing a stick?
Maybe the philosophers should reconsider their definition of “thinking.”
3. The Argument from “Specialized Knowledge”
Sure, they know things you don’t.
But that doesn’t make them better, does it?
To a philosopher, the masses’ understanding is shallow, while theirs is deep, like a bottomless well of wisdom.
The idea is that you, the layperson, can’t really understand philosophy the way they do, because you’re not trained.
You don’t have the rigor they’ve been through. But guess what?
Some of the smartest people you’ll ever meet have never stepped foot in a university.
And no amount of “specialized knowledge” is going to make you feel like a million bucks when you’re sipping beer in a dive bar, talking about life’s mysteries.
4. The Cave—Socrates Is Laughing at You
Remember the Allegory of the Cave? Socrates sure loved it. The people in the cave, chained up, staring at shadows on the wall?
That’s you. And the philosopher? The one who somehow escaped the cave to see the light?
Yep, that’s them. You’re too busy being impressed by shadows to see the truth. The philosopher walks around, enlightened by the sun, casting judgment on your ignorance.
But maybe the philosopher should ask themselves—if you’re so damn enlightened, why do you need to belittle people?
The best minds in history never felt the need to draw that kind of line.
5. Philosophy—The Right to Be Pompous
There’s something almost built into philosophy that says, “If I’m right, you’re wrong.” Most of the time, philosophers will play the role of the intellectual warrior.
If you challenge their ideas, they’re going to crush you with jargon. “Oh, you think morality’s subjective?
Well, let me introduce you to Kant’s categorical imperative and destroy your life for 40 minutes.”
It’s a power move. And in some twisted way, it’s almost beautiful.
You want to talk about who’s right and who’s wrong?
Go ahead, ask a philosopher. You’ll find that their answer will sound an awful lot like something a pretentious jerk would say at a dinner party.
They’ll look down at you and say, “Well, you wouldn’t understand, but let me explain why I’m right, in excruciating detail.”
6. The Underdog Complex
Sometimes, philosophers try to convince you that they’re the underdog.
That’s right—being an intellectual, steeped in books and thick arguments, is apparently a lonely path.
They’ll act like you can’t possibly understand their struggle. You’re too busy with your “normal” life to get it, but they, they are the warriors of wisdom.
They fight to pull you out of your ignorant stupor. What do they get for all this effort? Not much. Maybe a teaching job or a book nobody reads. But it’s worth it. Because they’ve got the truth.
Except the truth, my friend, isn’t locked away in a dusty tome. It’s in the way we live, the choices we make, the way we treat each other. It’s in the world, not just in books.
7. Because the “Common” People Are So Damn Predictable
Philosophers tend to think they’ve got the world figured out. And, to a point, they do.
But there’s an arrogance in the way they dismiss regular people.
They call you predictable. Too busy with your “little” concerns to engage with the bigger questions.
Too caught up in routine to think about the purpose of life. But maybe that’s where the philosopher gets it wrong. Maybe it’s the “little” things that matter most.
Conclusion
Philosophers love to draw that line. It’s their badge of honor. “We’re different. We see the world differently.”
Well, good for them. But you know what? The world isn’t some abstract concept waiting to be unlocked by dusty old books and over-intellectualized debates.
Sometimes, the world’s truth is hiding in plain sight: in the laughter of a child, the smell of rain, or even the hum of a busy street.
Philosophers might think they’ve got it all figured out, but in the end, it’s just another way to hide from the truth.
And maybe the “common” people—they have something the philosophers don’t: the ability to live with the mystery without needing to solve it.
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