I don't think intellectualism is about having an impact on society. Indeed, it's practically the opposite since intellectuals are more likely to withdraw from society. This article follows up on one I recently posted that delves further into the conflict between intellectuals and the unreflective masses (link below).

But basically, as I'm defining it, an intellectual is someone who's swept up with the intellect, with ideas, arguments, and explanations, rather than with more mundane matters. Someone once said there are three kinds of people: those who talk about places, those who talk about people, and those who talk about ideas. Intellectuals are the latter. They loathe small talk, for example.

https://medium.com/grim-tidings/the-ancient-cold-war-between-intellectuals-and-the-unreflective-masses-d0a85e0e9cda?sk=9228151d6257df2ee31ab91cd361c014