Philosopher Igor Sibaldi has outlined 12 distinct types of stupidity, arguing that everyone falls into at least one category, regardless of intelligence or education. In an interview with Metro, he explains that the Latin word stupidus does not mean ignorant or foolish, but rather describes someone who 'stands still' when faced with situations that seem straightforward to others, preventing them from reaching their full potential.
What Stupidity Really Means
According to Sibaldi, 'A stupid person isn't necessarily ignorant, a fool, silly, or an idiot. In fact, they're often kind-hearted, affectionate, honest, and well-educated.' Their flaw is that they sometimes fail to react appropriately, leading to unhappiness. When used accurately, the term becomes 'a really useful tool for reflecting on ourselves and on others.'
The 12 Types of Stupidity
In his book How Not To Be Stupid, Sibaldi draws on Jungian psychology, focusing on the ego and its four key functions: thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition. He identifies 12 areas where stupidity can manifest:
- Communication: The less you express what you know or want to know, the more stupidus you are.
- Self-defence: Being afraid to defend yourself shows a lack of courage, making you stupidus.
- External direction: If you can't find your bearings, you won't dare to find your way in life.
- Internal direction: Not making good use of your inner cognitive system leads to stupidity.
- Authority: Obeying too much or too little, or forcing yourself on others, indicates stupiditas.
- Wealth: Being afraid of abundance in time, ideas, or memories is a form of stupidity.
- The past: Ignoring historical knowledge limits your plans and aspirations.
- Your past: Forgetting what you loved as a child robs you of energy and makes you stupidus.
- Outsider function: Conformists who only think what others think are inevitably stupidi.
- Sense of obstacles: Not seeing obstacles means you've stopped growing.
- Overcoming obstacles: Seeing obstacles but not enjoying overcoming them leads to stupidity.
- Attention: Lack of curiosity about yourself and the world makes you stupid.
The Role of Fear
'The constant element across all these twelve forms of stupidity is fear,' says Sibaldi. He adds that there is a more subtle and harmful fear: 'the fear of being afraid, which is a disastrous way of trying to feel safe.' Fortunately, these fears are easy to understand and overcome, as 'everyone is the world's leading expert on themselves.'
How to Recognize Your Own Stupidity
To identify moments of stupidity, Sibaldi says you need 'a good amount of honesty and personal courage.' He suggests that a bad mood can be helpful: 'A bad mood is like an angel that shows up every now and then and asks, “What haven't you managed to do, to have, or to become yet?” If you answer, the bad-mood angel congratulates you and leaves.' This can lead to new goals and new ways of not being stupid.
