The Problem of Stupidity
We use terms like "idiot", "imbecile", "moron" and so on, very often in our daily lives. We give the impression that we truly know what it means to be stupid, yet is that so?
The focus on the problem of stupidity is brought up by the social and cultural troubles of modern society. We live in an age when we have access to huge amount of information. We, theoretically, have the possibility to be more intelligent than ever. However, more and more people tend to behave in a very bizarre way.
Stupidity is generally perceived as something negative, yet despite this in nowadays there is almost a kind of celebration of stupid acts, especially on television. There appears to be some attraction towards viewing people acting stupid. An explanation for this aspect can be the fact that stupidity and humor are generally linked. It is funnier to observe an imbecile than an intelligent person because the latter tends, by definition, to avoid embarrassing situations. Another explanation why stupidity is seen as more appealing to people is the fact that it is so much easier to behave moronic. You only struggle and put effort into your actions when you try to choose the best option.
In the modern world there is also an unhealthy tendency to avoid intelligent conversation or subjects. Maybe an example is needed: in the past only wealthy people had access to proper education; however many of them went through universities without actually learning the information they received, apart from certain basic things. Of course, that did not stop them from bragging and thinking they are superior to other fellow humans. They used sophisticated words only to try to underline that they have a very profound soul, when in fact they were very shallow. Society eventually caught up with them and slowly people marginalized those who only wanted to brag about what knowledge they have. However, if in the past people with a basic culture made fun of people who lack certain information, now the situation, instead of being balanced, is reversed in the extreme. In certain circles you almost cannot use "big" words or talk about classic books because you will be considered pretentious and you will be marginalized. People tend to dislike a person that has a rich culture because a comparison between them and that person is not a very flattering one. This almost begs the question: why even go to school if people want you to be dumb?
Yet, school itself does not always propose the right methods of gaining knowledge and the proper information. Teachers tend to encourage obedience. But, there is another aspect, one that also shares a light on why, easy access to information is not sufficient for people to furnish their minds. If people use the internet to find research certain events they usually only go throw the data, but they do not process it. They take it as it comes and do not compare and contrast.
According to some experts, stupidity is celebrated by the modern society, because of the youth supremacy we experience. The vast majority of products being made nowadays, especially in the entertainment compartment (movies, TV-shows, music etc.), is designed for teenagers and people in the early twenties. However, up to the present, in every culture we have the society centered on the "elders", great people with gray beards. It was generally accepted that older people have more experience and are in consequence more intelligent. Yet, this social view seems to have been replaced with another which says that old people are incapable of changing, of adapting and they have dusty old ideas that are no longer valid.
There is also a misunderstanding concerning knowledge. To many people, it comes as a surprise, but smart people are the first to admit that they do not know something. On the other hand, stupid people tend to do two things: 1- they do not admit that they do not have an answer to a question (they believe they have all the answers, that they know everything) and 2- they are quick to judge you when you do not know something.
Despite all these aspects, it is not an easy task to try to define intelligence and stupidity. A personal definition of the latter is: a lack of intelligence which translates in an incapability to solve problems fact that generates acts that endanger the person who makes them or the people around him. Add to this the incapability or unwillingness to think about the consequences of actions and you have an acceptable definition of stupidity. An interesting thing is that from some point of view we are all stupid because all of us, at a certain point in our lives, made some pretty stupid mistakes and acted moronic. Only a truly stupid person would deny this.
Stupidity is generally perceived as something negative, yet despite this in nowadays there is almost a kind of celebration of stupid acts, especially on television. There appears to be some attraction towards viewing people acting stupid. An explanation for this aspect can be the fact that stupidity and humor are generally linked. It is funnier to observe an imbecile than an intelligent person because the latter tends, by definition, to avoid embarrassing situations. Another explanation why stupidity is seen as more appealing to people is the fact that it is so much easier to behave moronic. You only struggle and put effort into your actions when you try to choose the best option.
In the modern world there is also an unhealthy tendency to avoid intelligent conversation or subjects. Maybe an example is needed: in the past only wealthy people had access to proper education; however many of them went through universities without actually learning the information they received, apart from certain basic things. Of course, that did not stop them from bragging and thinking they are superior to other fellow humans. They used sophisticated words only to try to underline that they have a very profound soul, when in fact they were very shallow. Society eventually caught up with them and slowly people marginalized those who only wanted to brag about what knowledge they have. However, if in the past people with a basic culture made fun of people who lack certain information, now the situation, instead of being balanced, is reversed in the extreme. In certain circles you almost cannot use "big" words or talk about classic books because you will be considered pretentious and you will be marginalized. People tend to dislike a person that has a rich culture because a comparison between them and that person is not a very flattering one. This almost begs the question: why even go to school if people want you to be dumb?
Yet, school itself does not always propose the right methods of gaining knowledge and the proper information. Teachers tend to encourage obedience. But, there is another aspect, one that also shares a light on why, easy access to information is not sufficient for people to furnish their minds. If people use the internet to find research certain events they usually only go throw the data, but they do not process it. They take it as it comes and do not compare and contrast.
According to some experts, stupidity is celebrated by the modern society, because of the youth supremacy we experience. The vast majority of products being made nowadays, especially in the entertainment compartment (movies, TV-shows, music etc.), is designed for teenagers and people in the early twenties. However, up to the present, in every culture we have the society centered on the "elders", great people with gray beards. It was generally accepted that older people have more experience and are in consequence more intelligent. Yet, this social view seems to have been replaced with another which says that old people are incapable of changing, of adapting and they have dusty old ideas that are no longer valid.
There is also a misunderstanding concerning knowledge. To many people, it comes as a surprise, but smart people are the first to admit that they do not know something. On the other hand, stupid people tend to do two things: 1- they do not admit that they do not have an answer to a question (they believe they have all the answers, that they know everything) and 2- they are quick to judge you when you do not know something.
Despite all these aspects, it is not an easy task to try to define intelligence and stupidity. A personal definition of the latter is: a lack of intelligence which translates in an incapability to solve problems fact that generates acts that endanger the person who makes them or the people around him. Add to this the incapability or unwillingness to think about the consequences of actions and you have an acceptable definition of stupidity. An interesting thing is that from some point of view we are all stupid because all of us, at a certain point in our lives, made some pretty stupid mistakes and acted moronic. Only a truly stupid person would deny this.
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