Against Stupidity
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:02 pm
knowledge is power
the state now realises this
could explain why 'unto this last' by john ruskin is not in the bishopsgate library !
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Against Stupidity
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Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:30 pm
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:51 pm
we need to find ways to reduce the circulation of philosophy now magazine to keep knowledge to a select few 
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:18 pm
Hi Rick , this is a great wee site and I'm enjoying having a place to
go to debate lifes many puzzles .
Occasionalism ,,??? really ,??
speaking of stupidity ,,
god intervenes ,???
What I understand about the mind ,
is it's very similar to knowledge it'self ,
layer upon layer over time improving as it goes ,
at the base or start of our brain , is a crocodile , a dinosaur ,
and above is monkey ,the frontal lobes are a recent addition ,
and it's there we store modern thinking ,
the beast still lurks within ,
and it is the frontal lobes running the latest windows that manages it all .
go to debate lifes many puzzles .
Occasionalism ,,??? really ,??
speaking of stupidity ,,
god intervenes ,???
What I understand about the mind ,
is it's very similar to knowledge it'self ,
layer upon layer over time improving as it goes ,
at the base or start of our brain , is a crocodile , a dinosaur ,
and above is monkey ,the frontal lobes are a recent addition ,
and it's there we store modern thinking ,
the beast still lurks within ,
and it is the frontal lobes running the latest windows that manages it all .
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:33 pm
I don't know about you, but there is something absurd about this editorial. The example of stupidity it uses doesn't necessarily illustrate stupidity.
It talks about scientist thinking they were stupid in believing that the atom couldn't be split. When physicists eventually split it they shouted what idiots they were to think that way. To me this is not an example of stupidity but perhaps naivety or inexperience.
Why not mention something really stupid like trying to build a subway (underground) in the air. But who knows, maybe that will be possible some day.
One really can't stop stupidity if it really wants to happen. I mean, I saw the stupidity of electing George W. Bush as president but it still happened. And I don't think any re-education is going to prevent that kind of stupidity from happening. However, I don't think the world, overall, is as stupid as it once was. It's smarter and more sophisticated. But that in itself can bring about new stupidities.
Stupidity is often an arbitrary thing. Some people think it's stupid and ignorant to be a meat eater. Why not be a vegetarian instead?
Religion can be a stupid thing!
It talks about scientist thinking they were stupid in believing that the atom couldn't be split. When physicists eventually split it they shouted what idiots they were to think that way. To me this is not an example of stupidity but perhaps naivety or inexperience.
Why not mention something really stupid like trying to build a subway (underground) in the air. But who knows, maybe that will be possible some day.
One really can't stop stupidity if it really wants to happen. I mean, I saw the stupidity of electing George W. Bush as president but it still happened. And I don't think any re-education is going to prevent that kind of stupidity from happening. However, I don't think the world, overall, is as stupid as it once was. It's smarter and more sophisticated. But that in itself can bring about new stupidities.
Stupidity is often an arbitrary thing. Some people think it's stupid and ignorant to be a meat eater. Why not be a vegetarian instead?
Religion can be a stupid thing!
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 11:28 pm
stupid people tend to have more kids than smart people
intelligence is bad for your genes ?
intelligence is bad for your genes ?
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:42 am
This is a stupid remark.JasonPalmer wrote:stupid people tend to have more kids than smart people
intelligence is bad for your genes ?
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 7:49 pm
In this editorial Rick Lewis writes: "Philosophy Now is creating a new annual award for Contributions in the Fight Against Stupidity". Nominees can include anybody that is helping to wage the battle against systemic stupidity.
I nominate people who are working to improve literacy and education in Africa because that is one way of defeating the stupid, corrupt regimes that govern many countries on that continent. I also nominate those who are promoting women's rights around the world, because empowering women will help to curtail and dampen many of the stupid things perpetrated by men.
A majority of women around the world are still treated like second class citizens. This is stupid behave because it stifles and discourages a large proportion of the productive potential of the world. And more brains allowed to think can help deter the stupidity in the world.
I nominate people who are working to improve literacy and education in Africa because that is one way of defeating the stupid, corrupt regimes that govern many countries on that continent. I also nominate those who are promoting women's rights around the world, because empowering women will help to curtail and dampen many of the stupid things perpetrated by men.
A majority of women around the world are still treated like second class citizens. This is stupid behave because it stifles and discourages a large proportion of the productive potential of the world. And more brains allowed to think can help deter the stupidity in the world.
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:26 am
A generalization but often true ,spike wrote:This is a stupid remark.JasonPalmer wrote:stupid people tend to have more kids than smart people
intelligence is bad for your genes ?
when you go into the poor area's of any country ,
you will find the biggest families .
But back to the topic , STUPIDITY ,
originally stupid meant a specific IQ quote .
less than 100 , the average .
but in this context I believe it means "lack of knowledge"
we can be stupid and have a high IQ ,
we can have an average IQ and be wise ,
So against a lack of knowledge ,
I'm an Atheist ,
I think most of the world is stupid about Atheism ,,,!!!
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:22 pm
I can't think of a PN editorial that has left me more in a lurch than this one by Rick Lewis: Against Stupidity. What is he really getting at? The theme of this issue is the Mind. Is he suggesting something like, if we cultivate our minds more we could eradicate stupidity?
I think he is talking more about systemic, collective stupidity than personal stupidity. He gives the example of a bunch of physicists thinking they were stupid because they didn't believe the atom could be split, when it had been. Lewis explains It was a forehead-slapping moment where Niels Bohr yelled out what idiots they were for not having seen it.
I don't think Niels Bohr and his team of physicists were so stupid or idiotic for not seeing that the atom had been split. After all, they were dealing with a weird aspect of science, quantum physics, where what was observed wasn't necessarily what was happening. Also, these physicists were still inexperienced in the area and didn't quite know what to expect. I wouldn't call that lack of knowledge stupidity.
Someday a cure for cancer may be found. Might some doctor then say, How stupid we were not to have seen it before, when it was right there under our noses all the time? So often in hindsight it is that we see our stupidity, mostly because we were just ignorant of the facts, no more, like in the case of the splitting of the atom.
Perhaps it's something like, the more we know the stupider we get, much like "the more I know the less I know". Speak for yourself!
Now, was the London riot this past summer stupid?
I think he is talking more about systemic, collective stupidity than personal stupidity. He gives the example of a bunch of physicists thinking they were stupid because they didn't believe the atom could be split, when it had been. Lewis explains It was a forehead-slapping moment where Niels Bohr yelled out what idiots they were for not having seen it.
I don't think Niels Bohr and his team of physicists were so stupid or idiotic for not seeing that the atom had been split. After all, they were dealing with a weird aspect of science, quantum physics, where what was observed wasn't necessarily what was happening. Also, these physicists were still inexperienced in the area and didn't quite know what to expect. I wouldn't call that lack of knowledge stupidity.
Someday a cure for cancer may be found. Might some doctor then say, How stupid we were not to have seen it before, when it was right there under our noses all the time? So often in hindsight it is that we see our stupidity, mostly because we were just ignorant of the facts, no more, like in the case of the splitting of the atom.
Perhaps it's something like, the more we know the stupider we get, much like "the more I know the less I know". Speak for yourself!
Now, was the London riot this past summer stupid?
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:36 pm
One of the problems with leaving an open ended statement,
one that draws no conclusion ,
is that it's left up to the punter to decide what it means ,
all well and good you would think in a democracy ,
but unfortunately what we get is all the wrong conclusion being drawn ,
if the average punter could make sense of the world , we wouldn't have religion or all the other forms of madness that we do ,
So Rick was being provocative , but has he taught us anything ,
will we all get the same lesson ,
would we learn more if Rick was to draw a conclusion and an explanation of why he came to that conclusion .
asking the peasants questions is asking them to work it out ,
if they could work it out they would have already ,
I think we have to be brave and draw conclusions , make statements ,
what does it all mean , where do we go from here ,
what are we going to do about it , how will we bring about change ,,???
one that draws no conclusion ,
is that it's left up to the punter to decide what it means ,
all well and good you would think in a democracy ,
but unfortunately what we get is all the wrong conclusion being drawn ,
if the average punter could make sense of the world , we wouldn't have religion or all the other forms of madness that we do ,
So Rick was being provocative , but has he taught us anything ,
will we all get the same lesson ,
would we learn more if Rick was to draw a conclusion and an explanation of why he came to that conclusion .
asking the peasants questions is asking them to work it out ,
if they could work it out they would have already ,
I think we have to be brave and draw conclusions , make statements ,
what does it all mean , where do we go from here ,
what are we going to do about it , how will we bring about change ,,???
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:46 pm
Well, I am looking at a book titled "The Death of Common Sense", about how laws suffocate business and entrepreneurialship. I was drawn to it because of Rick Lewis' editorial "Against Stupidity". In many ways common sense is the opposite to stupidity.
This book was written to appeal to business people who think that there are too many laws and regulations in doing business. Those laws and regulation, they think, are stupid. The law is an ass for it.
It's funny how stupidity is viewed. Some people view government regulations as stupid and others view them as necessary, making common sense. Take the banking crisis that hit America and Europe, for instance. Bankers thought that many of the regulations about them conducting business were stupid. The government obliged the banks and rolled back many of the regulations or ignored them altogether. Today many of us know how stupid and asinine that was. Why, we would not have the present financial crisis if we had had in place those regulations that so many thought were stupid. Ironically, those regulations governing banking were forged by experience and a previous human stupidity.
The Death of Common Sense was written in the early 1990's. However, I haven't see any signs of laws and regulations suffocating or stifling business. In fact business has grown exponentially over the years, even though so-called stupid laws and regulations have also increased. I guess we learn to adapt.
This book was written to appeal to business people who think that there are too many laws and regulations in doing business. Those laws and regulation, they think, are stupid. The law is an ass for it.
It's funny how stupidity is viewed. Some people view government regulations as stupid and others view them as necessary, making common sense. Take the banking crisis that hit America and Europe, for instance. Bankers thought that many of the regulations about them conducting business were stupid. The government obliged the banks and rolled back many of the regulations or ignored them altogether. Today many of us know how stupid and asinine that was. Why, we would not have the present financial crisis if we had had in place those regulations that so many thought were stupid. Ironically, those regulations governing banking were forged by experience and a previous human stupidity.
The Death of Common Sense was written in the early 1990's. However, I haven't see any signs of laws and regulations suffocating or stifling business. In fact business has grown exponentially over the years, even though so-called stupid laws and regulations have also increased. I guess we learn to adapt.
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:06 pm
I think the instrument is a little blunt ,
too general and doesn't really hit the nail on the head .
We all do stupid things ,all of us .
we may exercise ,eat well , and then smoke tobaco .
we may not smoke or drink or swear , we may go to church every Sunday ,
and pray with the other overweight women .
We could say the challenge is to see the whole picture ,
to not leave any dusty little corners , no neglected spots ,
we have to get it together on all levels , no point being a brilliant scientist , and believing in hocus pocus ,
if youv got a brain use it in all your endeavours and keep it real ,
To understand the complexities and range of problems we get today is a mighty challenge ,
life has got very complicated ,
iphones , computers , just working a modern tv can be a challenge for the older generation .
So how many ways are we stupid vrs ways we are not ,
are you fat , unfit , smoke , drink , bad driver , bad parent , bad partner ,
bad teeth ,
most people would have to tick at least one of those boxes,
are we all stupid , NO ,
but we are all capable of doing stupid things ,!!!
too general and doesn't really hit the nail on the head .
We all do stupid things ,all of us .
we may exercise ,eat well , and then smoke tobaco .
we may not smoke or drink or swear , we may go to church every Sunday ,
and pray with the other overweight women .
We could say the challenge is to see the whole picture ,
to not leave any dusty little corners , no neglected spots ,
we have to get it together on all levels , no point being a brilliant scientist , and believing in hocus pocus ,
if youv got a brain use it in all your endeavours and keep it real ,
To understand the complexities and range of problems we get today is a mighty challenge ,
life has got very complicated ,
iphones , computers , just working a modern tv can be a challenge for the older generation .
So how many ways are we stupid vrs ways we are not ,
are you fat , unfit , smoke , drink , bad driver , bad parent , bad partner ,
bad teeth ,
most people would have to tick at least one of those boxes,
are we all stupid , NO ,
but we are all capable of doing stupid things ,!!!
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:15 pm
Godfree wrote:I think the instrument is a little blunt ,
too general and doesn't really hit the nail on the head .
What instrument is a little blunt, to hit what nail on the head?
Re: Against Stupidity
Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:44 pm
We gave the Award to Dr Mary Midgley. I'll put a full report online soon.
Spike, sorry if the point of my example was unclear and has been bugging you. I was trying to make clear that stupidity comes in several varieties, and that we are none of us immune from them all.
Actually I think the variety of stupidity which might result in people trying to build subways in the air is the least interesting and least complex kind.
I think the point of Niels Bohr's comment ("What idiots we all have been!") was not that they were previously wrong about the possibility of splitting the atom. After all, these were complex matters right at the cutting edge of physics. I think Bohr said that because they had been assuming that the atom couldn't be split, and that this unexamined assumption had prevented them from seeing the simplest explanation of the experimental results which had been puzzling them all. It had been staring them in the face, but they didn't see it because of an unexamined and unjustified assumption.
My point wasn't about collective rather than individual stupidity - though that might well be an interesting distinction and I touched on this in a Daily Telegraph comment article a week or so ago. Bohr and the other scientists from physics' "golden age" in the 1920s and 1930s are among my heros and my point was just about one of the ways even very clever individuals can be stupid in one particular way.
Sorry for this rushed posting.
Spike, sorry if the point of my example was unclear and has been bugging you. I was trying to make clear that stupidity comes in several varieties, and that we are none of us immune from them all.
Actually I think the variety of stupidity which might result in people trying to build subways in the air is the least interesting and least complex kind.
I think the point of Niels Bohr's comment ("What idiots we all have been!") was not that they were previously wrong about the possibility of splitting the atom. After all, these were complex matters right at the cutting edge of physics. I think Bohr said that because they had been assuming that the atom couldn't be split, and that this unexamined assumption had prevented them from seeing the simplest explanation of the experimental results which had been puzzling them all. It had been staring them in the face, but they didn't see it because of an unexamined and unjustified assumption.
My point wasn't about collective rather than individual stupidity - though that might well be an interesting distinction and I touched on this in a Daily Telegraph comment article a week or so ago. Bohr and the other scientists from physics' "golden age" in the 1920s and 1930s are among my heros and my point was just about one of the ways even very clever individuals can be stupid in one particular way.
Sorry for this rushed posting.