In the previous lecture we learned that as a basis for his theory about human stupidity, Cipolla divided people into four behavioral groups: (1) the helpless, (2) the intelligent, (3) the bandits, and (4) the stupid.
He argued that stupidity is one of the most powerful destructive forces in society and thus are stupid individuals the greatest threat to society.
Human behavior has its regularities, which Cipolla calls laws, It is easy to think of such a law. Take for instance a simple law: Every sane human being runs when he notices life-threatening danger.
Likewise has stupid behavior its laws, according to Cipolla. Let's take his first law: Always and inevitably, everyone underestimates the number of stupid people in circulation.
No matter how many stupid people you think exist, there are always more. Stupid people are found in all walks of life, regardless of education, social class, or intelligence.
Stupidity is not limited by IQ; even highly educated or powerful individuals can act irrationally. A popular example these days could be a politician implementing a policy that harms both the people and the state.
A fact is that many people mistakenly believe that stupidity is rare, leading them to underestimate its prevalence and impact. You find it in our way of speaking....... You must be REALLY stupid, if....etc. Well, it seems, many are :-)
Let's try law number two: The probability that a person Is stupid Is independent of any other characteristic of that person. This means, that stupidity is randomly distributed across all demographics, race, gender, nationality, profession, education level, or wealth.
Many assume that intelligence, education, or social status reduces stupidity, but this is false. A PhD holder can be just as stupid as someone without formal education.
This law puts me in a somewhat awkward position. More than once I have claimed that the road to a better world is paved with education. The more educated the population is, the better they can organize their life.
But here I must conclude, that from Cipolla's point of view, education is not the way, how you can reduce or prevent stupidity, which confronts us with our main theme here: Why am I here?
After only two laws we already see the inevitability of stupidity. Education is not a sufficient remedy. So we also have to delve into the question: How do you combat and prevent the stupid behavior of individuals?
This means that we still have three laws to go and a lot of work to do, but let's save that for another lecture.....
The floor is yours,..... Thank you all again.
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
The Discussion
[13:25] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:25] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): how can you recognise if a person is stupid?
[13:25] bergfrau Apfelbaum: hmm @"How do you fight and prevent the stupid behavior of individuals?" elections don't help
[13:26] herman Bergson: We'll discuss that later Bergie....
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aah
[13:26] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ok
[13:27] herman Bergson: Stupid behavior is characterized by the fact that it harms the individual himself and others at the same time....
[13:27] herman Bergson: For instance...
[13:27] herman Bergson: ACEO of some company makes his companty buy another one...goal...to become the biggest...
[13:28] herman Bergson: but it shows to be a financial disaster
[13:28] herman Bergson: Or Trump....
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:28] bergfrau Apfelbaum: mhm
[13:29] herman Bergson: His idea about Gaza harms the people there and also his reputation and credibility
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like he believes water will flow to south because it must be "down"
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that's not how it works
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ,be he believes that
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but3
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): things like that
[13:29] herman Bergson: really, Bejiita???? :-)))
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and more devastating things he do
[13:29] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes I heard that too about the water
[13:30] herman Bergson: no......
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes he emptied farmers dams in north cause he believe it will flow to south because south is "down"
[13:30] herman Bergson: oh my....
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just GUUUUUUH
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): to quench the fires
[13:30] herman Bergson: A pity I missed that one.....
[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he spoiled a lot of water that farmers need in the summer
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): eys!
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): bye bye food!
[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Max:)))
[13:30] herman Bergson: Max !
[13:31] bergfrau Apfelbaum: hi Max.-)
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yo max
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): _)
[13:31] Max Chatnoir: Sorry, just back from reading tutoring, which is every Thursday.
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and then he just stands blubbering about "we have the faucets running now blablabla"
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): things like that
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): pfffff
[13:33] herman Bergson: Did someone give Max the lecture?
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): not me
[13:34] Max Chatnoir: I was afraid I'd be way too late....
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we just discuss stupidity
[13:35] Max Chatnoir: I can wait until you post it on the blog to read it.
[13:35] herman Bergson: Take a minute or so to read it, Max
[13:35] Max Chatnoir: Oh, thank you, Herman!
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): oops sorry I gave it too
[13:36] herman Bergson: It is amazing how to the point these observations about stupid behavior are
[13:36] bergfrau Apfelbaum: me too Beertje .-)
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol
[13:37] herman Bergson: And then comes the exciting part...for Bergie....:)
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that's a lot to read for Max
[13:37] herman Bergson: Can we fight it?
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): hasn't mankind always been stupid?
[13:38] herman Bergson: that is the point Beertje....
[13:38] herman Bergson: Stupidity is a human trait
[13:38] herman Bergson: Like blue eyes are a human trait
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa was just gonna ask is stupidity a personal trait,
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): for T it is for sure
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): always been always will
[13:39] herman Bergson: Because it is education, social status or IQ help here
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like he chooses he wants to be stupid, well his success to power is by duping others so
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like he said i like the stupid people, hence why he wants to kill education so people will stay stupid and vote for him again3
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a dictator 's methods
[13:40] Max Chatnoir: I hope it isn't inevitable!
[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): why are people so stupid, what is the reason of that?
[13:40] herman Bergson: it can be mitigated Max
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lack of education and fed crappy media
[13:40] Max Chatnoir: Good! There is hope, then.
[13:41] herman Bergson: I think we are already less stupid than a few centuries ago...
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but still there must be more
[13:41] herman Bergson: for instance where a church held onto an earth-centered universe while Galileo already had shown that this was false
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): why so many are duped so easily
[13:41] herman Bergson: or the idea that the earth is flat
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cults and such
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): eys
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or standing on end like Trump believes (flow from north to south)
[13:42] herman Bergson: Well, Bejiita...the first thing I think of is fear.....
[13:42] Max Chatnoir: So some of it at least is choice?
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): fear is a base thats true
[13:42] herman Bergson: Homo sapiens is afraid of a lot of things
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): primary instinct
[13:43] herman Bergson: so he invents answers to fight his fears
[13:43] herman Bergson: I think so, yes Max....
[13:44] herman Bergson: But a characteristic of a stupid individual is that he ignores counter-evidence and facts
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:44] herman Bergson: so he has to be educated to learn critical thinking and self-reflection
[13:44] Max Chatnoir: Yes, they can't accept the possibility that they might be wrong abourt something.
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): exactly
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that also max
[13:45] herman Bergson: In the past few years I have seen examples.....really...unbelievable
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like how Trump blames DEI gay people, black people ect for what he does and thus plays the role of Hitler at the same time spreading racism intolerance and hatred around
[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): + his stupidity
[13:46] herman Bergson: politics and religion are fertile grounds for stupidity....
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed a terrible combo
[13:46] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Mr T wants more religion in hte US
[13:47] Max Chatnoir: I think he just wants support from the religious right.
[13:47] herman Bergson: I saw some speech of him where he literally said...don't worry...God is leading you
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes:)
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): so we DOOOO worry
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): IN GOD WE TRUST!
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): GOD! I hate that one!
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he is a God given leader he says
[13:48] herman Bergson: That I always find so funny of soccer players when they enter the field....
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol yes
[13:48] herman Bergson: Player from team A prays to god to help them win....
[13:49] herman Bergson: player B of the opponebt does the same....
[13:49] herman Bergson: If god exists then all soccer games should end in a tie.... 1 -, 2 -2 or so
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok sure i can do that to but its just a gesture for me, i know there is noon up there who can help me other then myself
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or how i thow the phrase inshallah around
[13:50] herman Bergson: Hello Alt182 :-)
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but thats mostly cause it sounds cool
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hi Alt
[13:51] herman Bergson: One more lecture and we know all about stupidity :-)
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): are u sure?
[13:52] Max Chatnoir: I hope it's on Tuesday!
[13:52] herman Bergson: So let's enjoy our weekend and get ready for the next week
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): and don't do anything stupid
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ill try ㋡
[13:53] herman Bergson: I'll behave this weekend, Beertje...
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)) good
[13:53] herman Bergson: So....Class dismissed for today ㋡
[13:53] bergfrau Apfelbaum: me too :-)
[13:54] Max Chatnoir: Good to see you all!
[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:54] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Thank you Herman and class!
[13:54] bergfrau Apfelbaum: clap clap
