We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people are not offended. Stupidity surrounds us, boundless and pervasive. At times, it surfaces subtly; at others, it crashes down like a tsunami, leaving destruction in its wake. Rumour has it that we, too, can be its source—yes, even present company. The key to survival lies in recognising it; acknowledging promptly, and taking evasive action. Yet, I often find myself at a loss when faced with the oblivious champions of idiocy who invade our lives daily, whether at home or work. No matter how much energy we invest, no spark of shared understanding seems to ignite within them. While we may be tempted to tolerate or even befriend them, they appear to exist in a realm entirely their own. It feels as though they suffer from an incurable affliction.
I believe we are living in the golden age of stupidity. Yet, throughout history, the greatest minds of every era seemed to hold the same opinion about their own times. Perhaps they were right, or perhaps they were simply weary skeptics. What sets our era apart, however, is the chilling reality that it takes just one fool to press a red button and obliterate all other fools—along with the rest of the world. Another defining feature of our age is that stupidity has never been so blatantly visible, unapologetic, and vocal. In the face of this overwhelming epidemic, attempting to write about stupidity may itself seem like an act of foolishness. Still, I am willing to risk ridicule for this endeavour, which is a minor consequence—unlike the fatality of unchecked stupidity. This discussion will draw upon the insights and perspectives of renowned psychologists and philosophers, whose writings have shaped our understanding of human behaviour. Finally, let me assure the women reading this article that my reflections are unisex, for neither gender holds a monopoly on stupidity.
The term "stupidity" conveys a more negative connotation than "foolishness,"; its use in this article, therefore, will be carefully regulated. Stupidity is not an inability to understand, an intellectual deficit, or a lack of judgment that places an individual in a state of inertia or limits their freedom. It is akin to the Greek term morai or the Roman concept of stultitia, often translated as “folly.” A fool, in this sense, is someone who oversteps the bounds of reason and propriety, particularly in the realm of wit. Ignorance is not stupidity, as it can be an engine of knowledge when you know that you don’t know. The idea of stupidity as an excess of reason was explored by the great moralists of the French Enlightenment and master satirists such as Swift and Voltaire. For philosophers, reason was perceived as a law of nature—a force meant to balance imaginative flights. However, when reason attempts to override lived experience, it risks becoming absurd. To address the "disease" of stupidity, one must embrace a self-critical form of reason, one that acknowledges and respects its limitations.
Stupid people often employ various strategies to bolster their self-esteem, one of which is finding solace in how many others share their views
Stupidity manifests itself as the stubborn clinging to falsehoods, the wilful ignorance of reason, and the inability to learn from mistakes. One way to spot an idiot is that they are quick to condemn things without reason, guided by their narrow perspectives. They often operate in packs, capable of targeting innocent bystanders under the guise of virtue, respect, or tradition. Immune to self-doubt and steadfast in their sense of righteousness, they not only make you feel miserable but also take pleasure in the chaos they create. Disagreeing with them only provokes their scorn, insults, or attacks; all in the name of some lofty ideal. Attempting to reason with them is futile; the more you try, the more resolute they become. They revel in playing the victim, annoying others while portraying themselves as virtuous martyrs. Ironically, efforts to reform them often reinforce their illusion that they are heroic nonconformists, deserving of admiration and defence.
Stupidity seems to be our invariable companion; a reminder of the limits of our understanding and the potential for error that lurks within us. You will not be surprised to learn that stupidity is a well-researched topic. Since anyone can act foolishly, science has focused on understanding why people behave irrationally. Behavioural studies reveal that most individuals fail to properly analyse their environment, instead relying on habitual responses to internal or external stimuli. You’ve likely encountered people who instinctively glance at their wrist when asked for the time (even when they’re not wearing a watch) or those who obsessively press the elevator button when it doesn’t arrive promptly. The hallmark of stupidity is the ability to believe almost anything without question. Much of this irrational behaviour stems from our inherent need to feel in control of our environment. This compulsion often leads to absurd actions, such as belief in psychic abilities - an industry valued at $3 billion annually. An idiot may throw dice harder to yield sixes, select specific lottery numbers as a strategy, or place faith in remedies like homeopathy. This need for control is frequently accompanied by an illusion of control; a fool believes that he possesses superior command over circumstances compared to others.
Stupid people often employ various strategies to bolster their self-esteem, one of which is finding solace in how many others share their views. You’ve likely heard ridiculous statements or excuses from them, for example, “Nobody stops at this traffic light,” “I just knew it was going to be a boy,” or “My business failed because I was working with a bunch of losers.”. These individuals are not only incompetent but also prone to exaggerating their abilities. They may have never owned a dog but will confidently lecture you on how to train yours. They frequently offer unsolicited advice to professionals; armed with clichéd, and overconfident remarks like, “Being a lawyer isn’t hard; it’s just common sense,” “Quitting smoking? It’s all about willpower,” or “Flying a plane? It’s no different than driving a bus.” Among them, the cynical idiots are perhaps the most damaging. Their mistrust of others often causes them to miss valuable professional opportunities, ultimately leading to diminished success and lower earnings compared to their peers.
A stupid person is often incapable of considering alternative perspectives and fails to recognise that others might possess greater knowledge
How does the brain produce or accommodate stupidity? Essentially, our brain functions like a machine designed to foresee the future and ensure our survival by adapting to our circumstances. To simplify, the posterior region of the brain gathers and decodes information from the senses. This sensory input is then processed in the temporal lobe using stored memories, while the frontal lobe evaluates and strategises this information to guide our actions. The brain is also divided into two hemispheres with distinct but complementary roles: the right hemisphere focuses on spatial awareness, emotions, social interactions, and creativity (like music appreciation), while the left hemisphere specialises in logical reasoning, calculation, and rationality, and often dominates language functions. A thief may rob you, but a fool can harm you more deeply—like cutting the very branch both of you are sitting on. Interestingly, some claim that stupidity resides in the part of the brain that judges others as idiots. However, it is more likely that stupidity is a part of an evolutionary plan otherwise; it would have disappeared a long time ago. It is a mystery as to how idiots have survived the ruthless phenomenon of natural selection. We can make fun of them, but it seems they might be the mortar that holds society together.
It’s a well-known paradox that highly intelligent people can sometimes make remarkably stupid decisions. To begin with, a high IQ score does not necessarily equate to true intelligence. Standard IQ tests often overlook two crucial components of human intelligence: creativity and practical intelligence. There are two primary reasons why intelligent individuals may act stupid. The first is the self-serving cognitive bias, which leads them to believe they are inherently superior to others. This bias persists even when overwhelming evidence contradicts their perception. As a result, they may disregard the insights and abilities of others to maintain their self-image of superiority. The second reason is that being intelligent can come with challenges. Thorough research, critical thinking, and asking difficult questions require significant time and effort, which can lead to the temptation of taking shortcuts. Moreover, intelligence can alienate others; posing challenging questions or offering critical perspectives can make one unpopular. Over time, intelligent people often learn to suppress their insights and conform to the majority, even if it means following the crowd toward disastrous outcomes.
Intelligent people possess an exceptional ability to defend their beliefs, even when those beliefs are flawed. Since they are successful, others are often reluctant to challenge them. Critical thinking, frequently mistaken for intelligence, is a distinct set of cognitive skills grounded in rationality. This distinction helps explain why highly intelligent individuals sometimes engage in irrational behaviour. For instance, President Jimmy Carter, a Nobel Prize laureate in 2002, wrote an impassioned letter addressed to extra-terrestrials, which was included aboard the Voyager 1 space probe in 1977. Someone equated such attempts to communicate with aliens as shouting from outside the jungle without knowing there were merciless animals in it. Similarly, Steve Jobs, a pioneer in high technology, allowed his unwavering faith in alternative medicine to cloud his judgment. He attempted to treat his operable cancer with methods like fruit juice diets, acupuncture, and herbal remedies. Unfortunately, by the time he acknowledged the ineffectiveness of these treatments, the cancer had metastasised beyond his pancreas, leading to his untimely death.
Stupidity often manifests itself in the form of Bullshit (exaggerated or foolish talk; nonsense). Frankfurt describes its essence as its indifference to the truth where someone blurts out everything that comes into his head, and hopes to get away with it in the garb of, “to speak from the heart”, “to speak with fire and passion”, “to talk man to man”, etc. Since such “sincere and authentic” discourse and speakers have persistently been descending upon an “indulgent” audience, we have entered the era of post-truth. Post-truth was enlisted as the “Word of the Year” in the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016, and is defined as “relating to or denoting circumstance in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotions and personal belief”. With such tautological stupidity, the reason is caught in a trap, and we start getting used to meaningless clichés like, “Taking it to the next level”, “Low-hanging fruit”, “Boys will be boys”, “Hammer it out”, “Let us circle is back”, etc. in the public domain.
A stupid person is often incapable of considering alternative perspectives and fails to recognise that others might possess greater knowledge. Like an incompetent person, they may perform poorly in their domain but remain oblivious to their shortcomings, consistently overestimating their abilities. This phenomenon, known as the Dunning-Kruger Effect, highlights the disparity between perceived and actual competence. Research suggests that while capable individuals often underestimate themselves, the truly foolish rarely acknowledge their ignorance. Stupidity frequently hides behind narcissism, where intuition and "sincerity" are mistakenly equated with knowledge. As a result, those who speak with “passion” and “conviction” may appear more "authentic", and garner undue attention. Much like pseudoscience masquerading as science, fake news posing as truth, and conspiracy theories claiming legitimacy, stupidity often cloaks itself in the guise of knowledge and reason. This trend is deeply concerning, as it not only undermines truth but also allows the unwise to masquerade as insightful—despite their consistent reliance on baseless assertions.
The stupidity of populism thrives by appealing to individuals who resonate with the immaturity, rudeness, conspiracy theories, racism, and exaggerated nationalism embodied by populist leaders
Does culture perpetuate stupidity? Quite possibly. The more cultivated a society becomes, the greater access individuals have to complex ideas. Yet, even the less discerning among us are often shielded from their stupidity by the very fabric of cultural sophistication. It is difficult to imagine how a fool in one culture could not also be recognised as such in another. Nonetheless, individuals deeply embedded in a society’s cultural narratives often experience a wide range of emotions. Among these is the tendency to construct an identity rooted in a collective ideal, such as nationalism. While nationalism itself is not inherently problematic, the narcissism that often fuels it can give rise to dangerous illusions. Nationalism, closely intertwined with xenophobia and racism, taps into the primal, almost maternal, instincts of belonging, often excluding those deemed as "outsiders" or threats. History has shown us the devastating consequences of this exclusion, most notably in the persecution of Jews during the last century. Today, “the migrant” has assumed a similar role, frequently scapegoated for economic and social instability in Western societies.
Economic factors alone do not fully account for the rise of modern populism, as many of its supporters are not from economically disadvantaged classes. Instead, the stupidity of populism thrives by appealing to individuals who resonate with the immaturity, rudeness, conspiracy theories, racism, and exaggerated nationalism embodied by populist leaders. These leaders often help recruit individuals lacking strong professional or academic backgrounds, leaving them ill-equipped to assess the long-term consequences of the choices they make. Populism also preys on emotions, mobilising individuals whose judgment is clouded by fear, anger, or nostalgia. The fictional narratives crafted by figures like Donald Trump, Silvio Berlusconi, and Narendra Modi are presented as truth, manipulating the collective fantasies of the masses. The roots of this phenomenon can be traced to the withering of liberal societies, the alienation of individuals in market-driven economies, and a pervasive culture of narcissism that enables such trends to flourish. Countering populism requires a robust defence of democratic principles, institutional balance, the rule of law, and a political agenda centered on social justice and equity.
How can we address stupidity - or deal with foolish behaviour in ourselves and others? One approach might involve countering nonsense on its terms, using creativity to expose and mock fakery and folly. This is where satire and fiction can play a vital role, especially in a world shaped by "post-truth" narratives, which arguably lead us into a "post-fiction" reality. Perhaps we can reduce our collective foolishness by rediscovering an appreciation for human ingenuity and demonstrating intellectual humility. Given that stupidity is almost inevitable, it is essential to acknowledge that our foolish actions and reactions are our creations. Psychologist Albert Ellis reminds us that “A human being is neither ‘good’ nor ‘bad’—he just is.” This perspective calls for unconditional self-acceptance, allowing us to separate a person’s identity from their actions. To foster this mindset, we must cultivate compassion for ourselves as well. Kristin Neff identifies three core elements of self-compassion: mindfulness, recognising our shared humanity, and integrating self-acceptance with self-compassion. By embracing the latter, we can strengthen our resilience against stupidity and nurture a more thoughtful and understanding approach to life.
Recognising cognitive biases can also empower individuals to engage in more productive discussions and gain deeper insights into their behaviour. Instead of relying solely on rational persuasion, encouraging self-reflection and an examination of these biases can be more effective in lessening stupidity. Other strategies to manage stupidity, highlighted in the literature, include fostering reflective thinking by teaching such individuals to analyse information critically and encouraging deliberate pauses before responding. Life coaching can also be constructive, helping stupid individuals cultivate greater self-awareness, adopt a more grounded perspective on life, and find inspiration in a role model. If traditional approaches prove ineffective, a paradoxical intervention might offer an unconventional solution. This involves encouraging individuals to continue engaging in unwise behaviours, and allowing them to experience the natural consequences of their actions. The hope is that these experiences will serve as a wake-up call, sparking a reassessment of their choices and instilling a healthy scepticism about the “wisdom” of their ways.