Bonhoeffer’s “theory of stupidity”: We have more to fear from stupid people than evil ones

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Bonhoeffer’s “theory of stupidity”: We have more to fear from stupid people than evil ones​

Evil is easy to identify and fight against; not so with stupidity.

Credit: Giovanni Battista Recco, Annelisa Leinbach

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When we know something or someone is evil, we can take steps to fight it. With stupidity, it is much more difficult.
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer argues that stupidity is worse than evil because stupidity can be manipulated and used by evil.
• He also argues that stupidity tends to go hand-in-hand with acquiring power — that is, being in power means we surrender our individual critical faculties.

Bonhoeffer's "theory of stupidity": We have more to fear from stupid people than evil ones

Bonhoeffer's "theory of stupidity" posits that we have more to fear from stupidity than evil. The latter is easier to defeat than the former.

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Bonhoeffer’s “theory of stupidity”: We have more to fear from stupid people than evil ones​

"Among life's perpetually charming questions is whether the truly evil do more harm than the self-righteous and wrong." Jon Margolis


A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the heard is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest that are killed first. This selection benefits the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular elimination of the slowest & weakest members.
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.
And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.
Clifford C. "Cliff" Clavin, Jr. (born 1947 or 1949) Cliff Clavin played by John Ratzenberger

BUT !!

When we know something or someone is evil, we can take steps to fight it. With stupidity, it is much more difficult. #1

Generally perhaps, for individual subjects.
But when it's one of the most broad-range conspiracies in U.S. history, and it percolates into politics, specifically the democratic process, this comforting oversimplification quoted above does not apply.
There are historic examples of threats to U.S. sovereignty & integrity, both from without & from within. Has any of them, or perhaps all of the others combined come as close to being successful as the January 6 Trump insurrection?