Intellectual Capital of America? (better, places, population, difference)

[OyCrumbler]

Chicago had a really long and influential run (especially due to the University of Chicago), so should be in the books for that.

There was a pretty decent run in Los Angeles at various points of the 20th century, especially counter cultural.

For the recent past though, the Bay Area has been it for a large number of sectors.

[OakAve2OakLand]

I say it's a virtual tie between SF and Boston, but I gave the slight edge to the Bay Area.

I had to disqualify both NYC and DC because both cities are too rife with the greed and corruption that is destroying our country. People in those metros are certainly smart / educated / intellectual, but they use their powers for evil instead of good and are thus a net liability to our way of life and our freedoms. Of course, this is a generalization...I certainly don't mean everyone in those metros, so save your flames...but the prevailing culture is what it is.

[krudmonk]

San Jose and Boston

Probably some other cities in various categories, as "intellectual" is a rather broad term. I just broke it down to technology and education.

[rah]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

San Jose and Boston

Probably some other cities in various categories, as "intellectual" is a rather broad term. I just broke it down to technology and education.

The Bay Area and Boston, yes. San Jose and Boston? No.

[wallstreetmafia]

New York

[BigCityDreamer]

Boston, all the way.

[oceanman76]

York, Pennsylvania

[rotodome]

I think some people are getting academics confused with intellectuals.

[EwingOil]

This is totally a matter of opinion because it depends on how you define intellectual. In my opinion I would say that New York is the intellectual capital of America because New York seems to have the most intelligent people when it comes to business. When I think of intelligence I think of people who make lots of money and have lots of power. Anyone that is really and truly that smart should be rich in my opinion and New York seems to have more self-made wealthy people than any other city in the country. Someone who is really intelligent will figure out a way to become wealthy so that they can live their life with total freedom and be able to do whatever they want when they want. Someone who is truly intelligent probably won't want to spend most of their life working hard for someone elses dream. Also, there is a big difference between the classroom and the real world. Someone may be smart in a classroom but then they enter the real world and they can get crushed like a bug. There is definitely a big difference between book smarts and street smarts. There are more street smart people in New York than anywhere else. I will take a street smart person anyday of the week over a booksmart person. You can't hide in a classroom forever. Eventually you have to come out and compete with the big dogs in the real world. New York is where the most big dogs live. I love the previous comment from rotodome who is from Brooklyn.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by rotodome

I think some people are getting academics confused with intellectuals.

Bingo.