In Defense of Being 'Too Much': Reframing Pedantry
Abstract
Pedantry's cultural devaluation reflects societal biases against complexity. Its evolution from pedagogical roots (Greek pais/paidos) to modern pejorative usage parallels institutional preferences for simplified knowledge systems. Classical parallels emerge in Seneca's dismissal of periergia ("excessive care") and Quintilian’s critiques—attitudes mirroring today’s equation of precision with pretension. H.W. Fowler’s observation that "My pedantry is your scholarship" demonstrates context-dependent judgments of meticulousness. Modern anti-pedantry employs logical fallacies that devalue expertise while promoting ideological polarization through oversimplification. This analysis contends dismissing pedantry sacrifices intellectual rigor, urging recognition of precision as vital engagement with complexity.