It’s pracÂtiÂcalÂly guarÂanÂteed that we now have more stuÂpid peoÂple on the planÂet than ever before. Of course, we might be temptÂed to think; just look at how many of them disÂagree with my polÂiÂtics. But this unpreceÂdentÂed stuÂpidÂiÂty is priÂmarÂiÂly, if not entireÂly, a funcÂtion of an unpreceÂdentÂedÂly large globÂal popÂuÂlaÂtion. The more imporÂtant matÂter has less to do with quanÂtiÂty of stuÂpidÂiÂty than with its qualÂiÂty: of all the forms it can take, which does the most damÂage? Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of PowÂer and The Laws of Human Nature, addressÂes that quesÂtion in the clip above from an interÂview with podÂcastÂer Chris Williamson.
“What makes peoÂple stuÂpid,” Greene explains, “is their cerÂtainÂty that they have all the answers.” The basic idea may sound familÂiar, since we’ve preÂviÂousÂly feaÂtured here on Open CulÂture the relatÂed pheÂnomÂeÂnon of the DunÂning-Kruger effect. In some sense, stuÂpid peoÂple who know they’re stuÂpid aren’t actuÂalÂly stuÂpid, or at least not harmÂfulÂly so.
True to form, Greene makes a clasÂsiÂcal refÂerÂence: Athens’ leadÂers went into the PeloÂponÂnesian War cerÂtain of vicÂtoÂry, when it actuÂalÂly brought about the end of the AthenÂian goldÂen age. “PeoÂple who are cerÂtain of things are very stuÂpid,” he says, “and when they have powÂer, they’re very, very danÂgerÂous,” perÂhaps more so than those we would call evil.
This brings to mind the oft-quotÂed prinÂciÂple known as HanÂlon’s Razor: “NevÂer attribute to malÂice that which is adeÂquateÂly explained by stuÂpidÂiÂty.” But even in othÂerÂwise intelÂliÂgent indiÂvidÂuÂals, a tenÂdenÂcy toward preÂmaÂture cerÂtainÂty can induce that stuÂpidÂiÂty. BetÂter, in Greene’s view, to culÂtiÂvate what John Keats, inspired by ShakeÂspeare, called “negÂaÂtive capaÂbilÂiÂty”: the powÂer to “hold two thoughts in your head at the same time, two thoughts that apparÂentÂly conÂtraÂdict each othÂer.” We might conÂsidÂer, for instance, enterÂtainÂing the ideas of our aforeÂmenÂtioned politÂiÂcal eneÂmies — not fulÂly acceptÂing them, mind you, but also not fulÂly acceptÂing our own. It may, at least, preÂvent the onset of stuÂpidÂiÂty, a conÂdiÂtion that’s clearÂly difÂfiÂcult to cure.
RelatÂed conÂtent:
Why IncomÂpeÂtent PeoÂple Think They’re ComÂpeÂtent: The DunÂning-Kruger Effect, Explained
Based in Seoul, ColÂin Marshall writes and broadÂcasts on cities, lanÂguage, and culÂture. His projects include the SubÂstack newsletÂter Books on Cities and the book The StateÂless City: a Walk through 21st-CenÂtuÂry Los AngeÂles. FolÂlow him on the social netÂwork forÂmerÂly known as TwitÂter at @colinmarshall.
I have known this for some time. I do not underÂstand why peoÂple make deciÂsions tgat will hurt them in the long run. Not being able to or refusÂing to see all sides to an issie and to foreÂsee the ramÂiÂfiÂcaÂtions of the deciÂsions theu make is mind bogÂgling.
It is realÂly difÂfiÂcult to idenÂtiÂfy the right kind of peoÂple. SomeÂtimes we get trapped in some kind words of peoÂple and make silÂly deciÂsions. It is realÂly imporÂtant to underÂstand the peoÂple as everyÂone is not smart enough to take deciÂsions
There is a sciÂenÂtifÂic explaÂnaÂtion for the behavÂiour of modÂern humans, which is so far being overÂlooked… see artiÂcle “IdiocÂraÂcy: is this where democÂraÂcy is headÂed?” on SubÂstack.
Are you cerÂtain about this? ;)
My above reply didÂn’t disÂplay propÂerÂly under the comÂment to which it was replyÂing. So, it makes no sense. Please delete it and this, thanks.
First quesÂtion
Is Robert Greene a stuÂpid perÂson? How can I know he has not anothÂer scamÂmer?