“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt. Even those of the intelligent who believe that they have a nostrum are too individualistic to combine with other intelligent men from whom they differ on minor points. […] Perhaps we shall have to realise that scepticism and intellectual individualism are luxuries which in our tragic age must be forgone, and if intelligence is to be effective, it will have to be combined with a moral fervour which it usually possessed in the past but now usually lacks.” (Russell 1998: 28).

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) was an eminent British philosopher, essayist, and social critic who contributed to the history of ideas, ethics, political and educational theory.

Russel, Bertrand. 1998. “The Triumph of Stupidity.” Pp. 27-28 in Mortals and Others: Bertrand Russell’s American Essays, 1931-1935, (Volume 2), edited by Harry Ruja. Routledge.

***
Feel free to share this post with your colleagues, students and friends.
Follow Economic Sociology & Political Economy community on
Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn / Whatsapp / Instagram / Tumblr / Telegram / Threads