THE GREAT IRONY
One does not conclude that one's dog, cat, or other human companion is stupid when it does something seemingly irrational, careless, dangerous, or whatever. It simply doesn't occur to us that our animal companion has given it any thought as opposed to simply reacting in a manner consistent with their nature.
We humans, on the other hand, pride ourselves on our brain and the ability to transcend pure reaction and instinct. This pride is justified in much that has been accomplished over our history. HOWEVER. The fact is that our intelligence is co-existent with stupidity. With intelligence comes stupidity. They go hand in hand and cannot be separated.
The ability to think gives us the ability to be stupid. It is indeed the great irony. Without a brain such as ours, stupidity would be non-existent. A day will not go by when we, during the course of our daily activities, do not come across a statement, an act, a resolution of another human being that we do not consider stupid. It is invariably true that we encounter daily activities and statements which to us are deemed just plain nonsense: not to the purpose, irrelevant, counterproductive, etc. The adjectives denoting stupidity are practically endless.
It follows necessarily, that we, the human species, have a self-regard that is unwarranted. We think we are pretty special. Our religions, our societal norms, our therapists all either presuppose our specialness or encourage the belief in it. As much intelligence as is exhibited on a certain day, as much or more stupidity is exhibited with it. If one were to have any awareness at all, one can not deny this aspect of our lives here on planet earth. We do stupid things as readily as we do intelligent things as we have always done and will always do. There is no future where intelligence will rule over stupidity; they are of equal durability.
The stated purpose of education, training, socialization, etc. is to encourage intelligence and decrease stupidity. Unfortunately, the more highly educated, the more highly trained a person becomes, the greater likelihood of stupidity. One simply can not have intelligence free of stupidity. It can't happen. You can not have one without the other; they are co-existent.
It seems to me that maybe, just maybe, we ought to not think so highly of ourselves; a little humility might be beneficial knowing that doing stupid things is inevitable and we will do them.
Richard E H Phelps II