I said something about stupidity. Hitler wasn't stupid. Neither was Mao, nor Stalin. So I'm asking the question, if 'stupidity' is the enemy of the good, then how come these obviously dreadful human beings weren't just stupid?

Im being facetious.

There's an icon in Buddhism, of the pig, rooster and snake all pursuing each other in a vicious circle. The snake is hatred, the pig is greed, and the chicken is stupidity. These are the 'three poisons'.



So I'm saying that stupidity is only part of the picture. Sure, it's corrosive, and there's a lot of it, especially in Trump world - Trump being King of Stupid. But there's more to the plight of humanity than that.

We Americans have a totally different concept of stupidity.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stupid

There's an icon in Buddhism, of the pig, rooster and snake all pursuing each other in a vicious circle. The snake is hatred, the pig is greed, and the chicken is stupidity. These are the 'three poisons'. — Wayfarer

I'm shocked, stupefied that you got that symbolism wrong. It's actually,

The Three Poisons

1. Snake = Hatred
2. Pig = Ignorance
3. Rooster = Vanity

I guess the causal connection is like this: Ignorance (root cause) -> Vanity -> Hatred -> Ignorance (root cause). I'm not quite clear how hatred leads to ignorance. Perhaps, as some say, feelings (emotions) cloud one's judgment (hate being one of the strongest emotions out there).

So I'm saying that stupidity is only part of the picture — Wayfarer

Absolutely! :fire:

Hitler wasn’t stupid. — Wayfarer

Godwin's law, short for Godwin's law (or rule) of Nazi analogies, is an Internet adage asserting that as an online discussion grows longer (regardless of topic or scope), the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Adolf Hitler approaches 1 — Mike Godwin

:point: Godwin's Law

This thread is, I suppose, fast-tracking Godwin's law.

Internet adage asserting that as an online discussion grows longer (regardless of topic or scope), the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Adolf — Mike Godwin

There ought to be another law about "Godwin"...

There ought to be another law about "Godwin"... — Wheatley

As an online discussion grows in the number of Hitler references, the probability of mentioning Godwin's law approaches 1?

I said something about stupidity. Hitler wasn't stupid. Neither was Mao, nor Stalin. So I'm asking the question, if 'stupidity' is the enemy of the good, then how come these obviously dreadful human beings weren't just stupid? — Wayfarer

Many stupid people engage in war. No war is started by a stupid person though.

:flower:

There ought to be another law about "Godwin"... — Wheatley

As an online discussion grows in the number of Hitler references, the probability of mentioning Godwin's law approaches 1? — Hermeticus

:lol:

Why did people make such fateful miscalculations? For the same reason people throughout history have miscalculated. People were unable to fathom the full consequences of their decisions. — Yuval Noah Harari (Sapiens), explaining why humanity is a scourge for the earth

People were unable to fathom the full consequences of their decisions. — Yuval Noah Harari (Sapiens), explaining why humanity is a scourge for the earth

People have marshmellow brains.

1. Snake = Hatred
2. Pig = Ignorance
3. Rooster = Vanity — TheMadFool

Roger that. I had the pig down for greed - thought that figured - snake for hatred - check - and roster for stupid. Stand corrected but the basic point remains.

As an online discussion grows in the number of Hitler references, the probability of mentioning Godwin's law approaches 1? — Hermeticus

No.

https://thephilosophyforum.com/discussion/comment/595014

It was a joke.

This thread is, I suppose, fast-tracking Godwin's law. — TheMadFool

I picked the wrong evil dictator to make an example out of! :yikes: Anyway, good to know about Mike Godwin, he seems an ultra-cool dude. :cool:

We Americans have a totally different concept of stupidity. — Wheatley

That’s how I understand the word also, here in Australia.

Anyway to try and get the discussion back on track - I sort of see the point of the OP, and I agree that American politics, in particular, seems characterised recently by large outbreaks of stupidity. I mean, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is a living breathing example of stupid, making it possible for anyone to carry a gun without a license but litigating against schools that want to get their students to wear masks. If that’s not a definition of ‘stupid’, then I don’t know what is.

But stupidity is not the root of all evil so much as one manifestation of it.

picked the wrong evil dictator — Wayfarer

Damn right! Choose Mussolini next time!

Anyway, good to know about Mike Godwin, he seems an ultra-cool dude. :cool: — Wayfarer

His name doesn't testify to this. :smile:

Damn right! Choose Mussolini next time! — Wheatley

Mussolini turned from anarchist to socialist to fascist, which was a very progressive futuristic movement. He was a big black rooster with hen attitudes.

Due deference to the thread title, Mussolini was actually pretty stupid, wasn’t he?

Due deference to the thread title, Mussolini was actually pretty stupid, wasn’t he? — Wayfarer

What? How do you dare to criticize my duce! Non e stato stupido! He was just insane.

This thread is stupid... :yawn:

Stand corrected but the basic point remains. — Wayfarer

Indeed!

Trump being King of Stupid. — Wayfarer

:grin:

Trump being King of Stupid — Wayfarer

Trump being King of Stupid — Wayfarer

I can't agree more!

Due deference to the thread title, Mussolini was actually pretty stupid, wasn’t he? — Wayfarer

I don't think so. He was a brute alright, but not an idiot.

I don't think so. He was a brute alright, but not an idiot — Olivier5

My exact words! ☺

This thread is stupid... — Wheatley

A stupid fact.

A stupid reaction!

I always thought Peterson's support of Trump was the stupidest thing he ever did. Also note that he confidently predicted that Trump would win in 2020.