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A review by anotherpath
The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity by Carlo M. Cipolla
3.0
Not really a book. Really just an expanded and scientifically justified definition of stupidity and how it can be applied to the world. Most people are stupid. (Me).
It's not even a troll book. It just defines stupidity as an agent's actions that create net harm on him and his neighbors irrationally. A bandit causes harm rationally, and thus hurts society less. A helpless person is harmed without creating more harm. An intelligent person is someone who creates net growth for themselves and society.
It doesn't really go into the networking of stupidity which is where the real danger lies. People can be stupid. Groups are stupid and dangerous at a scale that eats planets.
It's not even a troll book. It just defines stupidity as an agent's actions that create net harm on him and his neighbors irrationally. A bandit causes harm rationally, and thus hurts society less. A helpless person is harmed without creating more harm. An intelligent person is someone who creates net growth for themselves and society.
It doesn't really go into the networking of stupidity which is where the real danger lies. People can be stupid. Groups are stupid and dangerous at a scale that eats planets.