Ignorance and Stupidity

Alexander Liss

07/19/04

The Ignorance is not absence of knowledge (anyone does not know at least something). This concept should be associated with the word "ignore" and in its essence it means creation of a wall, which prevents acquiring of knowledge in a particular area.

Maintaining of this wall, in spite of a natural desire to look knowledgeable and perpetual attempts of others to deliver their point of view, is expensive.

Usually, a person maintaining such wall becomes aggressive and emotional, when the wall is challenged.

Some of such walls are supported by a social group, to which an individual belongs. In this case, communication inside the group is comfortable, and the defense of the wall takes forms of the defense of group's values. Some of such walls emerged "naturally" others are consciously reinforced.

Any such wall is a manifestation of hidden restrictions, which take away person's freedom, but interpreted by the person as either natural or proper way of thinking.

The cause of such wall is the Stupidity. Stupidity is not an absence of the intelligence; it is a presence of peculiar walls, limiting free exploration by the intelligence.

These walls are the main cause of walls of the Ignorance. Walls of the Stupidity are easier to maintain.

Hence, neither developed intelligence nor large knowledge is a safeguard against the Stupidity and the Ignorance.

The Stupidity and the Ignorance arises, when a normal mechanism of setting temporary bounds is spoiled.

When one studies or works, one limits explorations of intelligence and limits the area of used knowledge. These barriers are temporary.

When a society is focused on a specific task, it similarly limits discussions and studies of its members. This focus and these limits are also temporary.

When a person or a society limits the area of exploration and knowledge, because they know or suspect own weakness and make efforts to prevent some dangerous developments, then this is understandable, but even these boundaries require frequent reexamination.

The problem arises, when these boundaries are set forever and reinforced by various threats.