I wouldn't say intellects hardly ever utilize rationality. I don't have an academic career but from talking to Brandon Fenton, he has said some things along the lines of what you are saying in that they are sometimes more strictly going along for the academic ride and not really thinking for themselves. he even caught his professor on some bullsh*t stubborn elitist bias. I totally agree with you that academics/intellectuals can cater to their foundation of dogmas instead of fearlessly allowing them to be shattered by ideas or evidence that clearly should bring it into question, hence they may never truly break new ground in thinking. Or else just use their indoctrination to twist everything in a desperate attempt to make it all compatible.