Bonhoeffer's Theory of Stupidity

[orangecrush]

So much makes sense now.

[patphil]

1. Ron White said, "you can't fix stupid".

Bonhoeffer tells us why.

[orangecrush]

4. This was scary to watch

It almost did happen here, and still can happen.

[HUAJIAO]

9. It is happening, even as we read about it.

[mahina]

14. Then Covid 19 said

Yes I can.

Rough luck for the innocents.

[patphil]

15. The unfortunate thing is that there seems to be an inexhaustible supply of stupid.

Even with all the self inflicted Covid-19 deaths, more move in to take their places.

[wryter2000]

2. Fascinating

K&R

[orangecrush]

3. Thank you!

[Jim__]

5. Great post!

From Amazon:

How does one read the signs of the times? What does it mean to resist? How do we engage faithfully in struggle? Dietrich Bonhoeffer has achieved iconic status as one who epitomizes what it means to struggle and resist tyranny and fascism and how one acts in faithful witness as a religious and political commitment. Bonhoeffer‘s witness and example is more relevant than ever. A testimony to that is a crucial essay penned by Bonhoeffer in 1942; "After Ten Years" is a succinct and sober reflection, and remains one of the best descriptions ever written about what happened to the German people under National Socialism. This volume presents this timely and unique essay in a fresh translation and a penetrating introduction and analysis of the importance of this essay-in Bonhoeffer‘s time and now in our own.

[orangecrush]

18. Thank you.

[karin_sj]

6. Wow

This exactly portrays what is happening in our country (and other parts of the world as well) right now. Very disheartening as it seems like there is no way to reach these stupid, misguided people.

[Tom Kitten]

7. Excellent, thank you

Thanks for the link, I'll be sharing it.

[orangecrush]

17. Most welcome!

[TygrBright]

8. But HOW does one liberate them? n/t

[orangecrush]

19. Great question.

[3catwoman3]

10. Slogans and catchwords.

Got that right.

[andym]

11. Seeing this video should help us all understand that the current situation goes beyond politics

to the very health and possibly existence of the US republic. Bonhoeffer's warning applies today. The modern tools of propaganda (social media) are much more powerful than those that came before-- though radio was good enough for the fascists of the 30's and look how much damage they did. It's not surprising that there are regressive radio and cable networks dedicated to spreading propaganda in support of whatever nonsense they feel will keep their audience captivated and throw power to a Trumpians.

[rurallib]

12. Man was that timely

And apparently stupidity doesn't go away, it just hides, ready to rise when the time is right and minds are compliant.

[orangecrush]

20. Hate to say this

But it is my guess that's why the nazis hung him 2 weeks before the camp was liberated.

Had he lived, he would have sounded the alarm every time fascism tried to rise from the grave.

[SergeStorms]

13. And now we know exactly why....

republicans love stupid people, and detest education for the masses.

Of course their slogan providing overlords are educated at the finest "liberal" colleges and universities.

[dgauss]

16. This sure seems familiar:

"In conversaton with him, one virtually feels that one is dealing not at all with him as a person, but with slogans, catchwords, and the like that have taken possession of him. He is under a spell, blinded, misused, and is abused in his very being. Having thus become a mindless tool, the stupid person will also be capable of any evil - incapable of seeing that it is evil."

[struggle4progress]

21. He does not warn against "stupidity" but against "folly" -- he explicitly remarks that

it is possible for a highly intelligent person to do very foolish things and that (conversely) an intellectually-slow person is not always a fool

Stupidity is an inability to think appropriately, while folly is the failure to think appropriately. A person may be stupid in various ways but be unable to overcome that, whereas folly can be overcome: that is why Bonhoeffer describes folly as a moral failure. It is his view that we are obliged to live responsible lives in whatever context we find ourselves, and a refusal to remedy our own foolishness is a refusal to act responsibly

[orangecrush]

22. Thanks for clarifying

I get your point.