Ken Hurley
Don't be stupid, you moron. – Ben Stern to his child, Howard
What a maroon. – Bugs Bunny
The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence. – Charles Bukowski
Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. – Laurence J. Peter
We keep on being told that religion, whatever its imperfections, at its least instills morality. On every side, there is conclusive evidence that the contrary is the case and that faith causes people to be more mean, more selfish, and perhaps above all, more stupid. – Christopher Hitchens
THE ARGUMENT was among an imbecile, an idiot, and a moron, as to whether a friend of theirs was either an imbecile, an idiot, or a moron. The dispute was exacerbated by her relentless efforts to appear brighter than she actually is. They know dumb. And she is dumb. They were certain her IQ was like a shuffleboard score, -10. While her efforts to appear less doltish could be applauded, she consistently displayed a level of duncish boneheadedness that made the idiot, imbecile, and moron feel like they just won the Nobel Prize for Intellectual Superiority. But which brand of dumb was she? Due to their derogatory connotations, the terms imbecile, idiot, and moron were decommissioned during the 1960s, in favor of new terms which included various degrees of retardation, which were all later revoked in favor of "intellectual disability" or "developmentally challenged," as we say today.
In the realm of intellectual incompetence, an idiot falls lowest on the intelligence scale. An imbecile is not quite as dumb as an idiot. And a moron has the highest level of intelligence for someone who is thought to be cognitively impaired. The idiot, imbecile, and moron still argue about where on the spectrum of human cognition their friend falls. They do not have the ability to resolve their dispute to an agreeable conclusion. So they argue.
We grapple with what it means to be intelligent since we seem to have a better familiarity regarding the complexities of human stupidity, which comes wrapped within our immense capacity for irrational behavior, poor decision-making, and foolishness.
As a recognized expert on the nature of stupid humans, the late Italian economist, Carlo Cipolla, summarized in his essay, The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity (1976): "A stupid creature will harass you for no reason, for no advantage, without any plan or scheme, and at the most improbable times and places. You have no rational way of telling if and when and how and why the stupid creature attacks. When confronted with a stupid individual you are completely at their mercy." Moreover, non-stupid people underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals. Curiously, Carlo also surmises that a stupid person is the most dangerous type of human. Thanks for the heads up, Carlo!
Fortunately, children don't need to be taught curiosity. If I recall correctly, curiosity is a good aid to memory too. The five-year-old is prone to ask lots of questions during her growth and learning process. The five-year-old will also repeat the same questions until her efforts at achieving alacritous acumen often become annoying to the adults around her. Good news about the five-year-old, she typically grows into her intelligence because she learns from the answers she receives. Fast-forward to adults who still believe asking lots of questions, questionable or otherwise, is akin to an inquisitive five-year-old, believing the questions asked are, in and of themselves, intelligence. It is not. The adult who asks a volley of repeated questions and has yet to learn from the answers, remains static, uninteresting, and tedious. It is the ability to learn from the answers where demonstrable intellectual prowess might be shown. To simply ask a question or many questions is not the answer, nor is it intelligence. There are thickheaded anserine questions, even if the repeated questions may be a cry for attention and understanding. A failure to learn from the answers is commonly known as stupid. Without the ability to critically think and draw reasonable conclusions from the answers derived from questions, repeated questioning is like a five year old who mindlessly stomps around the room and annoyingly keeps asking, "Why, why, why, why, why?"
To fully appreciate intelligence, it is essential to contrast it with its antithesis: stupidity. Stupidity can be defined as a lack of intelligence or the inability to comprehend or apply knowledge effectively. Ever try to enlarge a photo in a magazine with two fingers? Ever press the elevator button repeatedly with the hopes it will move faster? Ever talk to traffic while driving? Every walk into a room and forget why you're there? Ever try to light a cigarette with a blowtorch? Ever apologize to an inanimate object after bumping into it? Ever try to reattach fallen leaves to a tree? Remember U.S. presidential candidate Rick Perry when he infamously struggled to name the third government agency he wanted to dismantle, then said, "Oops." Ever roll your eyes in a sign of exasperated dismissive disapproval? Did you feel superior? Do you know any humans who want to kill other humans because they're on the wrong side of the border, or are deemed to be the wrong nationality, or the wrong color, or the wrong religion? Of all the life forms that exist on Earth, only humans have the power to destroy our entire ecosystem. (And, we're doing it! Seems stupid.) Ever wonder why savagely barbaric wars seem like a stupid failure of human interaction? Ever feel like you've tripped into slow cognitive decline after talking with a stupid person? Do you know any stupid people who are elected officials? A good example of functional stupidity can be found in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. The impulsive actions of the young lovers, driven by their lusty infatuation, ultimately led to their tragic demise. Their failure to consider the consequences of their actions, and their inability to think critically, highlight the deadly dangers of acting without intelligence.
While knowing occasional foolishness is a part of the human condition, stupidity seems rampant. It is our ability to learn from our mistakes, challenge our own beliefs, discern facts from opinions, and grow intellectually, that distinguishes us from the imbeciles, idiots, and morons. The universality of human capacity for ignorance, irrationality, and folly can be entertaining yet sad, even deadly, as evidenced by the Darwin Awards which are "given posthumously to people who have made the supreme sacrifice to keep their genes out of our pool. Style counts, not everyone who dies from their own stupidity can win." Human stupidity highlights the need for more critical thinking, education, and an informed engaged citizenry. So, where should we look for intelligence? Is there intelligent life on Earth? Is there extraterrestrial intelligent life? Is there intelligent life in New Jersey?
Intelligence is a complex and multifaceted concept, and has intrigued scholars, philosophers, psychologists, freethinkers, and other pontificating pundits for centuries. Intelligence can be defined as the capacity to acquire and apply knowledge, solve problems, reason logically, and adapt to new situations. Moreover, the definition of intelligence has evolved over time. Developmental Psychologist Howard Gardner, in his 1983 book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, proposed a theory of many types of intelligences. He suggests that intelligence encompasses various domains, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic intelligences.
In its satirical effort, The Peter Principle, Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull (1969), explains how in any human hierarchy, people will rise no further than their level of incompetence. The authors conclude by applying their principle to the totality of humanity, wondering whether humans will survive or become extinct upon reaching humanity's natural level of anticipated incompetence as technology advances. Hello, A.I.!
Literature provides a rich tapestry of characters who exemplify different forms of intelligence. In Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series, the titular detective showcases exceptional deductive reasoning and logical-mathematical intelligence. His ability to solve intricate mysteries through keen observation and astute analysis demonstrates his intellectual excellence.
In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the creature, despite his foreboding physical appearance, exhibits emotional intelligence and a desire for knowledge. He learns to read, comprehend complex ideas, and express himself eloquently. However, his lack of social intelligence and inability to navigate human relationships ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.
Another literary example of intelligence can be found in J.R.R. Tolkien's, The Lord of the Rings. The character Gandalf, a wandering, white-bearded, grey-cloaked, knowledgeable and wise wizard with a staff and large hat, possesses not only intellectual intelligence but also emotional intelligence. He understands the motivations and fears of those around him, guiding, persuading, and inspiring them to overcome challenges associated with countering the Dark Lord Sauron.
In H.G. Wells', The War of the Worlds, humanity faces an alien invasion that showcases the stark contrast between the advanced civilization of the Martians and the vulnerability of humans. This work not only highlights our fascination with extraterrestrial life, but also reflects our anxieties about encountering beings more advanced than ourselves, while discussing themes of prejudice, evolution, and imperialism.
Similarly, Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End presents a more benevolent scenario in which aliens known as the Overlords guide humanity toward a new era of peace and prosperity. But at what cost? Clarke's novel delves into philosophical questions and explores the implications of interacting with highly intelligent extraterrestrial beings, addressing themes of evolution, transformation, creativity, innovation, and the cyclical nature of existence, including the ultimate demise of the known world.
In George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984, as told by the protagonist Winston Smith, Orwell unveils the collective stupidity of a society that is manipulated and willingly embraces its own oppression. The novel highlights the dangers of blind adherence to dogma and the suppression of critical thinking, challenging readers to examine their own beliefs and behaviors.
Throughout history, numerous individuals have left an indelible mark on the world through their exceptional intelligence. Albert Einstein, renowned for his contributions to theoretical physics, revolutionized our understanding of the universe. His intellectual brilliance, characterized by his ability to think abstractly and formulate groundbreaking theories, earned him the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Marie Curie, a pioneering scientist, exemplified intelligence through her groundbreaking research on radioactivity. Her relentless pursuit of knowledge and her ability to apply scientific principles led to her discovery of two new elements, polonium and radium, and earned her two Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry.
In Stephen Hawking's book, A Brief History of Time (1988), he discusses in an easy reading manner for the novice to physics, the study of the origin, evolution, and finality of Earth and the Universe. Fun for the whole family! He writes that the type of theoretical issues he discusses in his book were originally an early attempt by others to understand some of the mysteries of life through philosophical and religious insights, with the effort to explain the nature of God or if God exists. However, Hawking prefers to examine these theories with mathematical calculations and empirical observations, rather than through a religious or philosophical approach. Hawking expresses hope that everybody will have at least a rudimentary understanding and willingness to discuss theories of cosmology in an effort to understand the true origin and nature of the Universe. As he said, "If we find the answer to that [why it is that we and the universe exist], it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason — for then we would know the mind of God." And, Hawking was an atheist! To explain complex ideas in simple terms as Hawking does, is intelligence.
Cinematic portrayals of intelligent life have alternated between dark and optimistic depictions. In Ridley Scott's Alien franchise, humanity encounters frighteningly ugly, aggressive, parasitic extraterrestrial species. These films play into our fears of the unknown and remind us of our vulnerability in the face of an advanced and malevolent civilization.
Steven Spielberg's film E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial offers a more heartwarming portrayal of intelligent extraterrestrial life. "E.T. phone home." Through the character of E.T., Spielberg evokes a sense of wonder, showcasing themes of separation, alienation, the transformative power of human connection, and the possibility of harmonious coexistence.
In the movie Idiocracy, directed by Mike Judge, an average Joe is put to sleep in the government's Hibernation Project and wakes up 500 years later to discover he is the smartest man alive in a world dominated by idiocy and ignorance. This satirical depiction serves as a commentary on the potentially self-destructive trajectory of humankind, highlighting the consequences of intellectual apathy and the commodification of stupidity.
But what about New Jersey? Is there intelligent life in the Garden State? I don't know. There is Chris Christie, who remains too big for his bridges.
Is there actually extraterrestrial intelligent life? I hope so. The Allen Telescope Array project, part of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), wants to answer this question in the affirmative with fact-based findings. The odds are overwhelmingly in favor that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. It is even likely that what the Earthlings consider intelligent today may make us look dumber than a bag of hammers by comparison after we discover other forms of intelligent life. Especially since, as you know, the word 'phonetically' doesn't even begin with 'F'. That's enough to cause extraterrestrial intelligent life to take a hard pass on humans. The SETI initiative signifies the scientific interest in finding intelligent life somewhere, anywhere. (They haven't yet begun looking in New Jersey.) Also SETI demonstrates the commitment of researchers to expand our understanding of the universe, and maybe even one day in other unexpected locations like Hoboken.
Intelligence is a multifaceted concept which encompasses various domains and manifests differently in individuals. The diverse dimensions of intelligence range from logical-mathematical and emotional intelligence to linguistic and spatial intelligence. We may have a slightly better understanding of intelligence knowing that critical thinking is essential to human success, especially when we compare intelligence with the vast array of human stupidity and the many potential dire consequences of acting without intelligence. As our understanding of intelligence continues to evolve, it is crucial to recognize and appreciate the complexity and diversity of human cognition. And, lack thereof.
Which reminds me: An imbecile, an idiot, and a moron walk into a New Jersey bar. The bartender says, "Ah, déjà poo, the same old crap again." Then asks, "Where's Dumb and Dumber?" The moron replies, "Dumb and Dumber are busy laughing all the way to the bank making millions in Hollywood." To which the bartender mutters, "Imagine the surprise Descartes felt when he realized that people who don't think exist too and sometimes do amazingly well."
As for me, I feel that I vacillate around the entirety of the intellectual vs. dumber spectrum. I'm no genius, not even a smarty-pants. I've been called a wise guy, but I suppose that's preferable to being called a dumb ass. Our feisty Granny was known to quote the following, whose ascription is unknown to me: "See the happy moron, he doesn't give a damn, I wish I were a moron, Dear God, perhaps I am." After some consideration, I believe I'm just smart enough to know I've left myself plenty of room for improvement.
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