Sciolism

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Sciolism noun, \ SY-uh-liz-uhm \

Means 1. Superficial knowledge; a superficial show of learning.
2. A pretentious attitude of scholarship; superficial knowledgeability.

Comes from Late Latin sciolus , "a smatterer," from diminutive of Latin scius , "knowing," from scire , "to know."

Example

American classics teachers' choice in the early national period to focus on grammar rather than other aspects of the classical inheritance resulted from their primary pedagogical goals: to mold gentlemen who navigated between sciolism and pedantry, ministers who could intelligently read the Bible, and citizens who were moral and dutiful.
- Caroline Winterer, The Culture of Classicism