Man the Stupid
“Know thyself!” was the motto inscribed on the oracle at Delphi, attributed to the poet and law-giver Solon (638-558 BCE).
But we know from history (which the Greeks themselves invented) that they did not understand much of their own behavior. Instead of uniting into a powerful (and intelligent and artistic) force, they fought each other constantly – and were easily conquered and enslaved by the Romans.
The first thing they should have recognized was this simple fact: people are stupid and self-destructive. It would not have taken any great genius to recognize this – the facts were staring them in the face – even gripping them by the throat and choking them. But they persisted in believing just the opposite – that they were wise.
This illustrates perfectly another one of our traits – our vanity, which we have in unlimited supply. But this would only be a source of occasional amusement, if it was not backed up with all the force we can muster.
We will not see our stupidity – no matter how vast. And we will not see how stubborn this stubbornness is. We will confess to any sin (real or imaginary) but not that.
Is this not strange? How have we gone for millennia without noticing this?
Sages of all kinds have preached that what we need is a more perfect consciousness. No doubt they are right, but this would only be a luxury, easily overlooked in our rush to destroy ourselves.
We can ask ourselves “Why this self-destructiveness?” – But here again, this is not necessary. What we absolutely have to do is recognize that it exists – and is destroying us.
No doubt we will continue to exist, in a greatly reduced state, much as we did in the Dark Ages. But without this fundamental knowledge, we are doomed to ultimate failure.
If were really wise, we would recognize our stupidity – and accept and understand it.
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