Here are the key points of his theory: 1
Tale
As the world teeters on the brink of annihilation, Dietrich Bonhoeffer joins a deadly plot to assassinate Hitler, risking his faith and destiny to save millions of Jews from genocide. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident, developed a profound theory of “stupidity” in his reflections on society and human behavior, particularly in the context of totalitarianism. He wrote about this idea in his “Letters and Papers from Prison.” during World War II. Bonhoeffer’s theory of stupidity revolves around the idea that stupidity, unlike malice, is a more dangerous and pervasive social issue. Stupidity as a Social Phenomenon Bonhoeffer viewed stupidity not as an innate personal trait, but as something that emerges under certain social conditions.
They become intellectually passive, accepting simplistic or irrational ideas without questioning them2
According to him, when people are influenced by mass movements, ideologies, or authoritarian systems, they often give up individual thought and critical reasoning. The Power of Influence One of his central observations is that people can become “stupid” when they are absorbed in the crowd or under the influence of an external power (such as propaganda or dictatorship). This type of stupidity is not a lack of intelligence but a lack of independent critical thinking. People become unable to reflect on their own actions and opinions because they align themselves with the mindset of the dominant group. Danger of Stupidity Over Evil Bonhoeffer believed that stupidity is more dangerous than malice because while evil can be confronted and countered, stupidity is immune to reasoning or logical argumentation.
Moral and Ethical Consequences Bonhoeffer also linked stupidity to a lack of moral responsibility
The stupid person is unaware of their own lack of understanding and often feels confident in their own mistaken beliefs. They are also more likely to become instruments of evil, as they blindly follow harmful ideologies or leaders without realizing the consequences of their actions.4. Inability to Recognize Reality Stupid people, according to Bonhoeffer, lose the ability to recognize reality. Even when presented with clear evidence or facts that contradict their beliefs, they reject them or distort them to fit their prejudices. They do not easily correct themselves because they are convinced of their righteousness, which makes discussion or debate ineffective.5.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Against stupidity we have no defense
Those who become “stupid” in this social sense fail to see the harm their actions or beliefs can cause. Their refusal to engage in critical reflection leads them to passively allow or even support injustice, oppression, or cruelty, without realizing their complicity in it. Solution: Personal Responsibility and Courage According to Bonhoeffer, the only way to combat stupidity is through personal responsibility, courage, and a return to authentic critical thinking. He believed that personal transformation, rather than mere intellectual engagement, was essential for people to free themselves from the mass conditioning that leads to paralysis by powerful forces, making them complicit in injustice without even realizing it. This concept continues to resonate today in discussions of authoritarianism, propaganda, and the loss of critical thinking in society.
Reasoning is of no avail
Neither protest nor force can touch it. Facts that contradict personal prejudices can simply be disbelieved; indeed, the fool can counter them by criticizing them, and if they are undeniable, they can simply be brushed aside as trivial exceptions.
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