What if stupidity isn’t about intelligence at all, but about surrendering the will to think?
In this powerful and thought-provoking educational video essay, we explore Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s timeless insights into human behavior — revealing how smart, well-meaning people can fall into dangerous patterns of unthinking conformity.
We blend philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and media analysis to uncover: ✅ Why intelligent people sometimes support harmful ideas ✅ How groupthink and social pressure can override individual judgment ✅ What practical steps you can take to stay intellectually independent in today’s information-saturated world
This is an educational and analytical video designed to promote critical thinking, self-awareness, and responsible decision-making.
We cover historical examples and modern challenges, from social media echo chambers to the rise of AI-driven misinformation, offering practical insights and constructive methods for personal growth.
I like to differentiate between ignorance and stupidity.
Ultimately it’s semantics because neither word is so precisely defined but this is what I mean:
Ignorance - a state of not knowing - can be fixed. The only thing you really need is an acknowledgement that you are ignorant on some matter, which should automatically lead to learning, because I believe it’s inherent in our nature.
Stupidity - a state of refusing knowledge, incl. the knowledge of your ignorance, and resisting learning opportunities.
According to that definition an alarmingly large number of people seem to be stupid these days. They even win elections.
PS: I know that this pretty much aligns with Bonhoeffer’s totally-not-forgotten quote.