Because the "Resolve" portion of the trope is dependent upon a belief or goal that goes against what conventional wisdom would call "good sense". For example, continuing to fight a battle that looks hopeless, or choosing to rush in against a problem or threat where caution or strategy would be the smarter thing to do.
Japanese Spirit has, since its creation, often been used as an "opposite" to the scholarly virtues of other cultures—particularly Imperial China and America.
Yes, Honor is typically anti-intellectual in and of itself. Not always, but often enough.
However, this is not just my conclusion. It was considered part of Japanese culture that bravery came before academia. This was especially in contrast to China, where the aristocrats and oligarchy were usually scholars. In Japan the shogunate made the military/warrior class the ruling faction, with academia considered at best supplementary to it.
Also, there are a lot of alternative options between "surrendering a lost battle" and "continuing a lost battle". That's a False Dichotomy, but you're not alone in that assumption. The samurai themselves believed that failing to act made one "no better than those already dead". Again, it's a false dichotomy, but there you go.
Edited by KingZeal
Chicago has received the kiss of the banhammer. Antisemitism is not appropriate at all.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Why exactly is this filed under 'Anti-intellectualism'?
Hide / Show Replies