I guess that depends on what one defines as stupid and what one defines as evil. I hear the word stupid thrown around all the time and I don't necessarily agree that what or who is being labeled as stupid, is in fact stupid. I think people have dumb moments, forgetful moments, or lack of exposure to the task at hand and is just simply inexperienced. I don't think I have ever encountered a truly stupid person. I have dealt with many that are stubborn, closeminded, and lazy. These characteristics create limitations for growth and learning.
My personal opinion is that desperation and heard mentality if lead by evil is the most dangerous.
Desperation may be the worst emotion/state of mind/position than a human can be in. In this state I think people are cable of very evil acts that they would never have considered prior to being in this state. My favorite quote from Shakespeare is "Tempt not a desperate man".
In regards to heard mentality...most people seem to be guided by emotions and not logic. When people start grouping together in misguided emotions this can take a turn for the worse. I think it is very human for people to group together under the same idea or emotion but when logic is out the door and only emotions are steering the heard, it is very easy to get on a wrong path.
In my thinking, I restrict the use of "stupid" to describe people who choose to be ignorant, especially when ignorance involves the risk of danger or folly. This is different, in my thinking, from those who are ignorant (of a particular thing) simply because as humans we cannot be omniscient, or have time and energy to read encyclopedias in every waking moment. I think you get my meaning.
I have no complaint with your assessment. I prefer to consider human intellectual limitations over moral perversions. But I will have to say that a herd mentality is pretty stupid in my book. It is an acceptance of the principle: "I am more stupid than everyone else; so I'm not going to think."
I'm not going to lie I struggle with the the word stupid and the idea of people Choosing to be ignorant. Obviously people don't say "I want to be ignorant"....I think it's a choice most people make inadvertently. A choice that is not ideal and could be detrimental but I don't see it as a choice with awareness.
Back to your original topic, evil or stupid. I'm putting my money on evil. Stupid could go either way and if evil did not exist then stupid wouldn't be a problem to deal with. I would think Stupid is easier to spot than evil. Evil can be cunning and sly. Once Stupid is spotted they can be swayed easily in a new direction.
In regards to the herd mind, I don't disagree that many are stupid. The herd mind has a magnetism about it and the people involved think they are thinking for themselves not realizing they are not. One thing I have noticed about these groups shown on the news is that they are young 18-35. I bet in 5-10 years from now 80% of them move in a new direction with their life and look back saying "wow I was dumb"
I'm putting faith in humanity, stupid or not. There's enough people in the world that are smart and aware to balance out the stupid. There is more than enough good in the world to prevail over evil...but it still appears to be a never ending battle. Will evil or stupid ever cease to exist? I say win over the stupid and prevail evil.
People choose to be stupid like they choose to eat chocolates and fast food: it's easy. Particularly if they are averse to thinking or learning. Nothing easier to make than a choice without contemplation. Plenty of people on this page are in that category, based on the ignorance on display.
Which is worse? A guy who threatens to punch you in the face if you don't give him your wallet? Or a surgeon who doesn't know what he is doing, about to cut into your daughter's brain? Hard to spot Stupid if the people doing the spotting are also stupid.
There is no "herd mind," unless you are referring to the individual who has decided to "go with the flow." That is basically an abdication of thinking. They erroneously assume that because they have made a choice, they have done so by thinking. Big lack of self awareness. But that is part of being stupid.
Your faith in younger generations would seem to be refuted by the systematic progression of the nation from relative liberty to a very evil and perverted totalitarianism. The good will prevail over evil...only if we are not stupid.
Here's the link to the discussion of why stupidity might be worse than evil. https://bigthink.com/thinking/bonhoeffers-theory-stupidity-evil/ I think, on a more subtle level, stupidity is actually evil, not just "as bad as," but I need to ponder it more.
I guess that depends on what one defines as stupid and what one defines as evil. I hear the word stupid thrown around all the time and I don't necessarily agree that what or who is being labeled as stupid, is in fact stupid. I think people have dumb moments, forgetful moments, or lack of exposure to the task at hand and is just simply inexperienced. I don't think I have ever encountered a truly stupid person. I have dealt with many that are stubborn, closeminded, and lazy. These characteristics create limitations for growth and learning.
My personal opinion is that desperation and heard mentality if lead by evil is the most dangerous.
Desperation may be the worst emotion/state of mind/position than a human can be in. In this state I think people are cable of very evil acts that they would never have considered prior to being in this state. My favorite quote from Shakespeare is "Tempt not a desperate man".
In regards to heard mentality...most people seem to be guided by emotions and not logic. When people start grouping together in misguided emotions this can take a turn for the worse. I think it is very human for people to group together under the same idea or emotion but when logic is out the door and only emotions are steering the heard, it is very easy to get on a wrong path.
In my thinking, I restrict the use of "stupid" to describe people who choose to be ignorant, especially when ignorance involves the risk of danger or folly. This is different, in my thinking, from those who are ignorant (of a particular thing) simply because as humans we cannot be omniscient, or have time and energy to read encyclopedias in every waking moment. I think you get my meaning.
I have no complaint with your assessment. I prefer to consider human intellectual limitations over moral perversions. But I will have to say that a herd mentality is pretty stupid in my book. It is an acceptance of the principle: "I am more stupid than everyone else; so I'm not going to think."
Something to chew on.
I'm picking up what you are throwing down.
I'm not going to lie I struggle with the the word stupid and the idea of people Choosing to be ignorant. Obviously people don't say "I want to be ignorant"....I think it's a choice most people make inadvertently. A choice that is not ideal and could be detrimental but I don't see it as a choice with awareness.
Back to your original topic, evil or stupid. I'm putting my money on evil. Stupid could go either way and if evil did not exist then stupid wouldn't be a problem to deal with. I would think Stupid is easier to spot than evil. Evil can be cunning and sly. Once Stupid is spotted they can be swayed easily in a new direction.
In regards to the herd mind, I don't disagree that many are stupid. The herd mind has a magnetism about it and the people involved think they are thinking for themselves not realizing they are not. One thing I have noticed about these groups shown on the news is that they are young 18-35. I bet in 5-10 years from now 80% of them move in a new direction with their life and look back saying "wow I was dumb"
I'm putting faith in humanity, stupid or not. There's enough people in the world that are smart and aware to balance out the stupid. There is more than enough good in the world to prevail over evil...but it still appears to be a never ending battle. Will evil or stupid ever cease to exist? I say win over the stupid and prevail evil.
People choose to be stupid like they choose to eat chocolates and fast food: it's easy. Particularly if they are averse to thinking or learning. Nothing easier to make than a choice without contemplation. Plenty of people on this page are in that category, based on the ignorance on display.
Which is worse? A guy who threatens to punch you in the face if you don't give him your wallet? Or a surgeon who doesn't know what he is doing, about to cut into your daughter's brain? Hard to spot Stupid if the people doing the spotting are also stupid.
There is no "herd mind," unless you are referring to the individual who has decided to "go with the flow." That is basically an abdication of thinking. They erroneously assume that because they have made a choice, they have done so by thinking. Big lack of self awareness. But that is part of being stupid.
Your faith in younger generations would seem to be refuted by the systematic progression of the nation from relative liberty to a very evil and perverted totalitarianism. The good will prevail over evil...only if we are not stupid.