So how will you address the “stupid ideas” espoused by Hillsdale College in their nationally distributed Imprimis and as one of the co- authors of Project 2025? Will your participation be considered endorsement of their divisive rhetoric and inhumane policies?
I love your quote from... In this repost, I revisit the insights of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who argued that stupidity—not malice—poses a greater threat to society. Stupidity, as Bonhoeffer saw it, cannot be reasoned with and is far more dangerous than the malice we can confront.
How many times a day do my wife and I say, "How can anyone be so stupid?" usually referring to something to do with the administration.
Paul brought me great comfort in his letter to the Hebrews some two thousand years ago.
Strive for peace with everyone,
and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,
that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble,
through which many may become defiled.
I read your posts almost always. I am so sorry I have not contributed more in the way of comments. Medical issues.
Regrettably, I do not have answers to any of your questions.
I do, however, have a question of my own. Only yesterday I was accused of "spreading disinformation" and "whataboutism". As I read your post, it strikes me that I would say the people who attacked me are examples of those holding "stupid thoughts". I have no doubt that they would say the same about me.
It seems then that unless we have some objective -- and agreed upon -- method for defining "stupid ideas", that this distinction is not likely to help us much. We'll just descend into camps mutually labeling each other "stupid" instead of "evil".
Do you have any thoughts on how we might construct mutually-agreeable definitions on what makes something "stupid"?
I have a family relationship that needs to be mended, but I think the word “stupid” is not the right word for their or my misgivings. Here are more possible synonyms: baggage, entrenchment, prejudice, poisoned thinking, stubborn…. I welcome more thoughts on this.
I am a fan of Bonhoeffer and Socrates and can see the wisdom in both their methods. They were civil and respectful of others, but that grace wasn't extended to them by those whose errors they pointed out. Both eventually paid with their lives, one with quiet dignity, the other as a gadfly, but the result was the same: They both were martyrs for truth.
Maybe stupidity is contagious because. people lack the skills of critical thought to be able to reason a different perspective outside the parameters of their experience?
Yours is at best a partial reading of Bonhoeffer, which is understandable given that your work is in inter-personal relationships. DB is not talking about cocktail parties or family reunions, he is talking about power and how that power makes us stupid, not just corrupt or malicious, but engendering a general incapability to reason properly, "Dummheit." This creates all kinds of problems, because humans seem to be conditioned to follow leaders, etc. So your Fox-watching in-laws may be obdurate and aesthetically unpleasing, but they are not really "stupid" under this reading. Yet the people on Fox, since they have some power to influence, are stupid, perhaps irredeemably so. Stupidity is therefore viral and typically passes down from those in power to those assisting them. Transmission directionality is controversial and one of the richest veins for further study. So to answer your question, power-situated stupidity is almost always a moral deficiency and in many cases should be treated as more dangerous than ill will.
I do believe the difference is in actions and words. Immoral thoughts or discourse is not immorality until actions of moral deficiency are implemented. There is no harm in consideration of all things moral or immoral except for those that are "foolishly stupid." Education is protection, not equipping for immorality. To ponder both the moral and immoral gives rise to the choices of free will. I believe in the power of ideation, fiction, and diversity to bring to light the consequences of following immoral actions without having to actualize the situational results in the real world. There is a scary trend to kill offensive ideas. If we value too hard the elimination of "bad" discourse, we will fail in the face of those taking immoral actions because of a forced innocence of the mind.
I don't have answers to your great questions. Perhaps the answers are anchored in one's individual personality and make up. Ten different people might have ten different answers, all equally authentic and valid? For me, I disagree without being disagreeable. I don't engage bullies which clears away much angst from my life. As an INFP, I am always in search of better understanding. I am at a place where I do not do dogma or slogan words. Meaning for me comes from human dignity, creative expression and the individual.
Enjoyed this insightful essay from a place of curiosity into the human condition. Best!
Start with offering to investigate your own views with the person you feel holds bad views.
Consider that it has been said that in the areas of political and moral considerations that logic is questionable as a means for deriving "truth." See:
This is a very good piece and thanks for putting this out.
Research has shown that Adolph Hitler was one of the few people (only 0.4%) with a high IQ test of around 140%, meaning he was super intelligent, sadly he also lacked good morals.
This clearly shows that being intelligent has nothing to do with good morals.
Interesting read. I am on the other side of the political spectrum and would like to understand how your story about the dangers of stupidity relates to the USA today and where we are going as a nation. I am particularly interested in how "stupidity" relates to American Education. I am a student of a number of historians and intellectuals, including James Loehen (Lies My Teacher Told Me), Howard Zinn (People's History of the US), Jonathan Kozol (Savage Inequalities and Shame of a Nation), and Diane Ravitch (Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools). Perhaps we could share bibliographies.
So how will you address the “stupid ideas” espoused by Hillsdale College in their nationally distributed Imprimis and as one of the co- authors of Project 2025? Will your participation be considered endorsement of their divisive rhetoric and inhumane policies?
And, how does Alex square this with Hillsdale honorary doctorate, "stop the steal" enthusiast Eric Metaxas, who wrote a popular biography Bonhoeffer?
I love your quote from... In this repost, I revisit the insights of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who argued that stupidity—not malice—poses a greater threat to society. Stupidity, as Bonhoeffer saw it, cannot be reasoned with and is far more dangerous than the malice we can confront.
How many times a day do my wife and I say, "How can anyone be so stupid?" usually referring to something to do with the administration.
Paul brought me great comfort in his letter to the Hebrews some two thousand years ago.
Strive for peace with everyone,
and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,
that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble,
through which many may become defiled.
I read your posts almost always. I am so sorry I have not contributed more in the way of comments. Medical issues.
Regrettably, I do not have answers to any of your questions.
I do, however, have a question of my own. Only yesterday I was accused of "spreading disinformation" and "whataboutism". As I read your post, it strikes me that I would say the people who attacked me are examples of those holding "stupid thoughts". I have no doubt that they would say the same about me.
It seems then that unless we have some objective -- and agreed upon -- method for defining "stupid ideas", that this distinction is not likely to help us much. We'll just descend into camps mutually labeling each other "stupid" instead of "evil".
Do you have any thoughts on how we might construct mutually-agreeable definitions on what makes something "stupid"?
I have a family relationship that needs to be mended, but I think the word “stupid” is not the right word for their or my misgivings. Here are more possible synonyms: baggage, entrenchment, prejudice, poisoned thinking, stubborn…. I welcome more thoughts on this.
I am a fan of Bonhoeffer and Socrates and can see the wisdom in both their methods. They were civil and respectful of others, but that grace wasn't extended to them by those whose errors they pointed out. Both eventually paid with their lives, one with quiet dignity, the other as a gadfly, but the result was the same: They both were martyrs for truth.
Maybe stupidity is contagious because. people lack the skills of critical thought to be able to reason a different perspective outside the parameters of their experience?
this is brilliant
Yours is at best a partial reading of Bonhoeffer, which is understandable given that your work is in inter-personal relationships. DB is not talking about cocktail parties or family reunions, he is talking about power and how that power makes us stupid, not just corrupt or malicious, but engendering a general incapability to reason properly, "Dummheit." This creates all kinds of problems, because humans seem to be conditioned to follow leaders, etc. So your Fox-watching in-laws may be obdurate and aesthetically unpleasing, but they are not really "stupid" under this reading. Yet the people on Fox, since they have some power to influence, are stupid, perhaps irredeemably so. Stupidity is therefore viral and typically passes down from those in power to those assisting them. Transmission directionality is controversial and one of the richest veins for further study. So to answer your question, power-situated stupidity is almost always a moral deficiency and in many cases should be treated as more dangerous than ill will.
I do believe the difference is in actions and words. Immoral thoughts or discourse is not immorality until actions of moral deficiency are implemented. There is no harm in consideration of all things moral or immoral except for those that are "foolishly stupid." Education is protection, not equipping for immorality. To ponder both the moral and immoral gives rise to the choices of free will. I believe in the power of ideation, fiction, and diversity to bring to light the consequences of following immoral actions without having to actualize the situational results in the real world. There is a scary trend to kill offensive ideas. If we value too hard the elimination of "bad" discourse, we will fail in the face of those taking immoral actions because of a forced innocence of the mind.
I don't have answers to your great questions. Perhaps the answers are anchored in one's individual personality and make up. Ten different people might have ten different answers, all equally authentic and valid? For me, I disagree without being disagreeable. I don't engage bullies which clears away much angst from my life. As an INFP, I am always in search of better understanding. I am at a place where I do not do dogma or slogan words. Meaning for me comes from human dignity, creative expression and the individual.
Enjoyed this insightful essay from a place of curiosity into the human condition. Best!
Start with offering to investigate your own views with the person you feel holds bad views.
Consider that it has been said that in the areas of political and moral considerations that logic is questionable as a means for deriving "truth." See:
https://a.co/gKEJwFZ
This is a very good piece and thanks for putting this out.
Research has shown that Adolph Hitler was one of the few people (only 0.4%) with a high IQ test of around 140%, meaning he was super intelligent, sadly he also lacked good morals.
This clearly shows that being intelligent has nothing to do with good morals.
Once again thanks for this interesting read.
Interesting read. I am on the other side of the political spectrum and would like to understand how your story about the dangers of stupidity relates to the USA today and where we are going as a nation. I am particularly interested in how "stupidity" relates to American Education. I am a student of a number of historians and intellectuals, including James Loehen (Lies My Teacher Told Me), Howard Zinn (People's History of the US), Jonathan Kozol (Savage Inequalities and Shame of a Nation), and Diane Ravitch (Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools). Perhaps we could share bibliographies.