Other forms: philosophasters
A person who pretends to have deep, profound wisdom and knowledge is a philosophaster. This historical insult refers to shallow pseudo-intellectuals who like to hear themselves talk.
The word first appeared in the 17th century as a clever linguistic mashup, combining philosoph-, from the Greek word for "lover of wisdom," and -aster, a Latin suffix used to denote a cheap imitation or a fake version of something. While a true philosopher or intellectual dedicates their life to the genuine pursuit of truth, a philosophaster is merely a pretender, one who may use dense, confusing jargon to feign enlightenment and impress anyone who will listen.