Are Highly Intelligent People Inherently Cruel?

[Cooky]

Curious how some folks who are quick to blindly smear all intelligent people with the label of "cruel", are themselves so slow to show compassion for how such obscene prejudice and bigotry makes intelligent people feel. Very curious that.

Nobody does smear the intelligent as "cruel", though the question has been asked for research purposes. Perhaps arrogance and self-pride have stood in the way of acknowledging this possibility.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Anyways, I interpreted Landon Caeli's message as, rather than a straight accusation, as a "Look, some people are doing this. I see it. I think they should do better." And I'm not always the best at reading people, but if I read correctly...

I think it'd be a good rule for me to implement into my own life. I may not be quite there yet, but I think I'm getting there.

 

[Cooky]

your only "crime" is that its clear youre the smartest person in the room as soon as you open your mouth.

Wow...

...Those words in this post seem really arrogant to me.

 

[Cooky]

Indeed. Got our priorities screwed on backwards.

No we don't. Thats generally a bad attitude to take, IMO.

 

[Heyo]

Do you not think it's arrogant to consider yourself the smartest person in a room?

No. It is simply a fact that I'm likely the smartest person in a room of randomly selected people. The same fact as that someone who is taller than 2 meters is likely the tallest person in that room.
(I might be the dumbest person at a Mensa meet-up and the 2 meter guy may be the smallest in a basketball team.)

Why would anyone be sizing other people up in regards to intelligence anyway?

Why would anyone be sizing other people up in regards to height anyway?
If you are looking for a basketball player, you'd probably look for height. If you are looking for an intellectually challenging conversation, you might want to look for intelligence.

...That's a trait that thoroughly disgusts me, as pretty much everyone has certain talents in certain area's -- there's no good reason for sizing yourself up with anyone, as that's based totally on arrogance and pride. What would be the purpose other than pride for sizing your intelligence up against someone else in a room?

Is that like some kind of dominance? Like wild animals do?

You started this discussion. You are the one who first sized us up for intelligence.
<start kitchen table psychology>
Do you feel threatened by intelligent people (who don't hide the fact that they are intelligent)?
<end kitchen table psychology>
We don't bite. We may have an advantage in debates but intelligence is not an argument and we may just as well be wrong.
And we are surely not more worth than other people.

 

[Polymath257]

Do you not think it's arrogant to consider yourself the smartest person in a room? Why would anyone be sizing other people up in regards to intelligence anyway?

...That's a trait that thoroughly disgusts me, as pretty much everyone has certain talents in certain area's -- there's no good reason for sizing yourself up with anyone, as that's based totally on arrogance and pride. What would be the purpose other than pride for sizing your intelligence up against someone else in a room?

Is that like some kind of dominance? Like wild animals do?

For exactly the same reason people size up others on qualities like attractiveness, or wealth. Intelligence is one of the worthwhile aspects of a person.

The purpose to sizing someone up based on intelligence? How about to see if they would be an interesting partner that you would want to have dinner with? It is one of the many variables to consider.

 

[PureX]

This is a commoners world. The middle class rules, regardless of "intelligence"... Or at least should considering it's size.

Perhaps the middle class would rule if they weren't so enamored with their own stupidity.

 

[Cooky]

For exactly the same reason people size up others on qualities like attractiveness, or wealth. Intelligence is one of the worthwhile aspects of a person.

The purpose to sizing someone up based on intelligence? How about to see if they would be an interesting partner that you would want to have dinner with? It is one of the many variables to consider.

Of course that can happen... And does happen...

...But my point is about sizing people up, in regards to intelligence, for pride. To me, that is a sin. I know others may not believe in sin, but do you think it's okay?

 

[Cooky]

Perhaps the middle class would rule if their weren't so enamored with their own stupidity.

Again, I see accusing others of stupidity as morally wrong, because there are other factors in life equally and also more important than intelligence.. Is this incorrect?

Also, I may have led readers astray by using the word "rule". That was a mistake on my part, because rule and power are other obsessive traits I tend to disagree with.

 

[Polymath257]

If you are described as wilfully ignorant, you are being credited with intelligence. The implication is that you have chosen to avoid learning something that you could learn, but which might cause you difficulties.

One of my professors had a phrase 'aggressively ignorant' to describe those students who didn't understand anything, didn't want to understand anything, and actively argued that they shouldn't be required to understand anything. At least with 'willful ignorance', there is a possibility you can change their minds.

 

[Polymath257]

Of course that can happen... And does happen...

...But my point is about sizing people up, in regards to intelligence, for pride. To me, that is a sin. I know others may not believe in sin, but do you think it's okay?

Pride is seldom a good reason for anything. It tends to suggest an inflated (and thereby ignorant) self-evaluation.

 

[Cooky]

No. It is simply a fact that I'm likely the smartest person in a room of randomly selected people.

So hold on... Are you suggesting that because it's a fact, it *cannot* also be arrogant? Or even immoral to take it one step further?

 

[Polymath257]

Again, I see accusing others of stupidity as morally wrong, because there are other factors in life equally and also more important than intelligence.. Is this incorrect?

It depends on context, I think. If you are in a position of responsibility, then stupidity is a moral issue. That stupidity, by its nature, can harm others unnecessarily. And that is immoral.

In a discussion, if it is to be a serious discussion, there is an assumption that those involved have learned enough of the basics to be able to intelligently discuss the topic. I'm not sure that failure in that is a moral failure, but it is certainly a rudeness toward those interested in the discussion.

 

[Cooky]

Pride is seldom a good reason for anything. It tends to suggest an inflated (and thereby ignorant) self-evaluation.

So declaring my intelligence is fact? Arrogant immoral pride..? Or possibly both?

 

[exchemist]

Americans enjoy hating on smart people. It's often been noticed by historians, sociologists, foreign visitors to America, and others. With us, hating on smart people is a thing.

I must say, speaking as an Englishman who has lived in the USA for a couple of years, there is definitely truth in this. The same tradition exists in English culture too, but a bit more nuanced. The English empiricist tradition has always been suspicious of what they see as a Continental penchant for building theoretical castles in the air. But in the US there seems to be a long tradition of treating any kind of sophistication or "book-larnin' " as rather suspect, compared to good, honest rural practicality. One sees it all the time in Hollywood films and it rolls over into, or simply reflects, attitudes in real life. It becomes depressing, after a while, to find clever people making huge efforts, socially, to hide their knowledge and ideas and keep conversation at the level of the lowest common denominator, for fear of seeming "highfalutin".

Nothing could be further from the attitude in France, say, where the intellectual is hugely respected.

 

[Polymath257]

So hold on... Are you suggesting that because it's a fact, it *cannot* also be arrogant?

That depends on whether the self-assessment is accurate or not. One can be the most intelligent person in the room, but still think they are more intelligent than they are.

But those that tend to pride in intelligence generally, from my experience, are NOT the really intelligent ones. The really intelligent ones are usually quite happy to listen to new ideas and are often incredibly kind people. I have known a few at the top intelligence levels and very few of them tend to arrogance. In fact, quite the opposite.

The problems tend to be in those at the middle levels who *wish* they were higher. They are the ones who tend to think they were 'held back' in spite of their 'massive intelligence' and 'deep insights'. They may still be the smartest person in a (small) room, but they aren't as smart as they *think* they are.

 

[PureX]

Again, I see accusing others of stupidity as morally wrong, because there are other factors in life equally and also more important than intelligence.. Is this incorrect?

Yes, it is incorrect. Accusing others of being stupid is appropriate when they are, in fact, being stupid.

Also, I may have led readers astray by using the word "rule". That was a mistake on my part, because rule and power are other obsessive traits I tend to disagree with.

"Rule" their own lives, "Control" their own destinies, whatever. Maybe the willfully ignorant don't deserve freedom and autonomy, as they'd only squander it on selfishness, anyway.

 

[Cooky]

I must say, speaking as an Englishman who has lived in the USA for a couple of years, there is definitely truth in this. The same tradition exists in English culture too, but a bit more nuanced. The English empiricist tradition has always been suspicious of what they see as a Continental penchant for building theoretical castles in the air. But in the US there seems to be a long tradition of treating any kind of sophistication or "book-larnin' " as rather suspect, compared to good, honest rural practicality. One sees it all the time in Hollywood films and it rolls over into, or simply reflects, attitudes in real life. It becomes depressing, after a while, to find clever people making huge efforts, socially, to hide their knowledge and ideas and keep conversation at the level of the lowest common denominator, for fear of seeing "highfalutin".

Nothing could be further from the attitude in France, say, where the intellectual is hugely respected.

Are you sure it's not "humbleness"..?

 

[Cooky]

Yes, it is incorrect. Accusing others of being stupid is appropriate when they are, in fact, being stupid.
"Rule" their own lives, "Control" their own destinies, whatever. The willfully ignorant don't deserve freedom and autonomy. They'd only squander it on selfishness when it's given to them.

Ugh... This is very frustrating to me because it goes against the traditions and culture I was raised in, and willfully adopted as my own... I suppose it has to do with my perspective of Jesus Christ.

 

[Polymath257]

Ugh... This is very frustrating to me because it goes against the traditions and culture I was raised in, and willfully adopted as my own... I suppose it has to do with my perspective of Jesus Christ.

Everyone is stupid at times. And it is a goodness to call people out on their stupidity. That gives them an opportunity to learn.

Of course, there are those who refuse to learn even after repeatedly having their (obvious) stupidities pointed out. Those people are the truly stupid.

Intelligence is often a willingness to recognize ones own stupidities and refuse to repeat them.