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Bonhoeffer on Stupidity

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Re: Bonhoeffer on Stupidity

#2
> The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine way to overcome stupidity.

Do you agree?

Re: Bonhoeffer on Stupidity

#4
post #2

> The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine way to overcome stupidity. Do you agree?

The author contradicts himself:

> Upon closer observation, it becomes apparent that every strong upsurge of power in the public sphere, be it of a political or of a religious nature, infects a large part of humankind with stupidity.

> The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine way to overcome stupidity.

Re: Bonhoeffer on Stupidity

#5
post #2

> The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine way to overcome stupidity. Do you agree?

I have a secular hypothesis about stupidity that echoes this: that it’s root is narcissism. A person becomes stupid when they come to believe that they could not be wrong.

This could be why profoundly accomplished people sometimes become stupid. Their accomplishment convinces them that they are intellectually superior, at which point they proceed to stop thinking critically.

Re: Bonhoeffer on Stupidity

#6
post #5
post #2

> The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine way to overcome stupidity. Do you agree?

I have a secular hypothesis about stupidity that echoes this: that it’s root is narcissism. A person becomes stupid when they come to believe that they could not be wrong. This could be why profoundly accomplished people sometimes become stupid. Their accomplishment convinces them that they are intellectually superior, at which point they proceed to stop thinking critically.

Just replace the word 'God' with 'The community', and religious theories tend to make a lot more sense.

Re: Bonhoeffer on Stupidity

#8

"Stupidity" is a mistranslation. "Folly" is the term that Boenhoeffer used in his letter from the concentration camp in which he would be martyred: don’t confuse intelligence and wisdom. https://bpa.st/5DJQ is the version of the excerpt of the letter i'm familiar with.

The term Bonhoeffer used is "Dummheit". As a German "stupidity" seems to be a more accurate translation to me.

Re: Bonhoeffer on Stupidity

#9
post #2

> The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine way to overcome stupidity. Do you agree?

To me that just seems like a theistic wording of "be humble because you are not perfect, and there's always a potential that you're wrong"

An atheistic wording could come from a moral perspective or appealing to virtuous characteristic.

A more scientific/ modern observation based re-wording of that is just the dunning kruger effect. (specifically the middle plateau of it)

Re: Bonhoeffer on Stupidity

#10
post #4
post #2

> The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine way to overcome stupidity. Do you agree?

The author contradicts himself: > Upon closer observation, it becomes apparent that every strong upsurge of power in the public sphere, be it of a political or of a religious nature, infects a large part of humankind with stupidity. > The word of the Bible that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom declares that the internal liberation of human beings to live the responsible life before God is the only genuine w…

There is no contradiction, except that maybe you don't like the word "God."
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