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During World War II
Chronology
As the world teeters on the brink of destruction, Dietrich Bonhoeffer joins a deadly plot to assassinate Hitler, risking his faith and his destiny to save millions of Jews from genocide. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian and anti-Nazi dissident, developed a profound theory. from "stupidity" in his reflections on society and human behavior, especially in the context of totalitarianism. He wrote about this idea in his “Letters and Papers from Prison”. Bonhoeffer’s theory of stupidity revolves around the notion that stupidity, in contrast to malice, is a more dangerous and pervasive problem in society. Here are the main points of his theory: 1.
They become intellectually passive, accepting simplistic or irrational ideas without questioning them
Stupidity as a social phenomenon Bonhoeffer viewed stupidity not as an innate personal trait, but as something that arises under certain social conditions. According to him, people who come under the influence of mass movements, ideologies or authoritarian systems often abandon their individual thought and critical reasoning. 2. The Power of Influence One of his key observations is that people can become "stupid" when they fall into the crowd or are influenced by an external force (for example, propaganda or dictatorship). Such stupidity is not a lack of intelligence, but a lack of independent critical thinking. People are no longer able to reflect on their actions and attitudes because they conform to the thinking of the dominant group.3.
Moral and Ethical Implications Bonhoeffer also associated stupidity with a lack of moral responsibility
The Danger of Stupidity Against Evil Bonhoeffer believed that stupidity is more dangerous than evil because, while evil can be confronted and resisted, stupidity is immune to reasoning or logical argument. A foolish person does not realize his lack of understanding and often feels confident in his false beliefs. They are also more likely to become instruments of evil because 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 they are presented with clear evidence or facts that contradict their beliefs, they reject them or change them to fit their preconceived notions. They are not easily corrected because they are convinced of their own rightness, making discussion or debate ineffective.5.
the paralysis of powerful forces, so they contributed to injustice without realizing it
Those who become "fools" in this social sense, they are unable to see the harm that 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. 6. The Solution: Personal Responsibility and Courage According to Bonhoeffer, the only way to combat stupidity is through individual responsibility, courage and a return to true critical thinking. He believed that personality transformation, not just intellectual engagement, was necessary to break free from the mass conditioning that leads to stupidity. Bonhoeffer’s theory of stupidity reflects how people can be manipulated by a kind of intellectual.
Reasoning is useless
This concept still resonates today in discussions about authoritarianism, propaganda and the loss of critical thinking in society. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: We have no defense against stupidity. Neither protests nor force can touch it. Facts contrary to personal prejudices may simply be disbelieved—indeed, a fool may criticize them, and if they are not refuted, they may simply be dismissed as insignificant exceptions.