The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity
Douban
Carlo M. Cipolla
overblik
The stupid are all around us: they are in every place, in every class, ready to cause damage to others and naturally (they are stupid, are they not?) to themselves. The stupid form the most dangerous category of human beings. Woe betide those who underestimate them. The historian Carlo M. Cipolla wrote this essay in a constructive effort to detect, know, and thus possibly neutralize one of the most powerful, dark forces which hinder the growth of human welfare and happiness. And if it then proves impossible to save ourselves from stupidity, at least we can take vengeance by laughing at it.
contents
The Mad Millers to the Reader
Introduction
I. The First Basic Law
II. The Second Basic Law
III. A Technical Interlude
IV. The Third (and Golden) Basic Law
V. Frequency Distribution
VI. Stupidity and Power
VII. The Power of Stupidity
VIII. The Fourth Basic Law
IX. Macro Analysis and the Fifth Basic Law