(I) League of Extraordinary Minds
If the League of Extraordinary Minds were just another eminent institution, this post would constitute a statement of its inauguration. However, the League has been brought together under the auspices of an ostensible crisis, in response to which it forms an emergency measure of sorts.
Besieged by the threat of intelligence; ad hoc collectives, drafting disparate personnel of indeterminate ontological status; are to be engaged in counteroffensive operations.
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(II) BiblioCountenance Origins
Simon Charles Smith
14 March 2015 ·
Here’s a question about opposites. It is often said that an extreme form of one idea/philosophy can turn circle and resemble its polar opposite eg. extreme forms of communism may largely resemble fascism. With this point in mind, I want to pose this highly pertinent question; is it possible for someone to be so utterly and benightedly stupid that they become a genius? Can one single act of sheer and unadulterated/unparalleled stupidity put you on a par with geniuses such as Steven Hawking or Albert Einsten?
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Simon Charles Smith That sounds like an intelligent thought provoking concept so therefore it would not work. What I am searching for is a thought of such unparallel stupidity that i become a genius or even immortal after thinking it!
14 March 2015 at 13:22
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Artxell Knaphni [SCS]: “an extreme form of one idea/philosophy can turn circle and resemble its polar opposite”
{AK}: Yes, Simon, this is what I’ve often said, & it’s the natural result of ‘dualistic’ conceptuality & thought.
“Genius” &”Stupidity” are only zones of possibility that reside beyond conventional mappings of ‘dualistic’ concepts.
As “Genius” &”Stupidity”, to be determined as such, require definition according to these “conventional mappings” – with respect to what normativity can they be deemed, “Genius”, &”Stupidity”? – it’s debatable whether either could be “Unadulterated” or “unparallelled”, in an absolute sense?
14 March 2015 at 13:48
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Simon Charles Smith The only thing that spoils that point Artxell Knaphni is that it is well expresssed and a logical and cogent argument. What I’m after is stupidity on a scale never experienced before in the entire history of time!
14 March 2015 at 13:47
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Artxell Knaphni [SCS]: “The only thing that spoils that point Artxell Knaphni is that it is well expresssed and a logical and cogent argument. What I’m after is stupidity on a scale never experienced before in the entire history of time!”
{AK}: Some of the best minds would like to know the answer to that, Simon! Such an honourable task is beyond conventional abilities.
But when the necessary connection between;”well expressed” and “logical and cogent argument”; & its contrary; is understood: when both are located, without histrionics; then, one can simply forget about them, getting on with the real work, unencumbered by obsessions of a contingent conventionality. Therein, resides the secret of both “genius” &”stupidity”. “Stupidity” is much harder, of course. Have you thought of setting your sights lower, Simon?
14 March 2015 at 14:10
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Simon Charles Smith I’ve had a few thoughts that are a bit stupid but am still aspiring to the ultimately stupidest thought ever Artxell KnaphniArt !
14 March 2015 at 14:16
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(IIa) At the League of Extraordinary Minds
We, here, at the League of Extraordinary Minds, are on a mission to conserve the valuable resource known, often disparagingly, as “Stupidity”. First to discern the onset of its scarcity, we are heavily involved in emergency measures to rectify what can only be called a crisis.
We hope you all understand, even as uninformed laypeople, the seriousness of the situation.
This, of course, involves a careful use of technical terms, such as “dunce”.
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(III) Stupidity Given Official Status Due to Resource Depletion Crisis
Of all academic disciplines, Stupidity has been the most neglected. Lacking any institutional representation, whatsoever, it has been consigned to the regions of ‘informal folk practice’. A derogatory epithet, any unqualified individual can offer judgments of “stupidity”, as if they were experts!
Obviously, this state of affairs is unsatisfactory. Without formalisation, without official accreditation, how can determinations of ‘stupidity’ be proffered with any reliability?
The future brings with it the possibility of a new, disciplinary autonomy. No longer a reference to failure in other disciplines, but Stupidity as a legitimate field in itself. With research institutes in every university around the globe, the development of Stupidity can only be advanced to levels never before seen. It could be a new Renaissance for knowledge.
It can be observed that the discipline of Stupidity is involved in all other disciplines, so can be seen as ‘foundational’ in these pursuits. If Philosophy & Theology have historically been seen as “Queens of the Sciences”, Stupidity has as much entitlement, if not more, to such Royal comprehensiveness. Has a new royal sibling emerged?
There have been ‘nay-sayers’, of course, those who argue about the feasibility of financing such a radical adventure. But Professor Stuart Pidlington, long-time advocate of institutionalisation, offers a novel, but persuasive, mechanism to raise funding: “Every day, in academic institutions throughout the world, Stupidity is cited with reference to alleged malperformances; no royalties or fees are paid; no acknowledgements are given. However, sufficient technological infrastructure exists; all the surveillance, smartphone, & other recording devices; to register each & every use of Stupidity. So we have here a tremendous opportunity for the ‘free market’ to self-finance the global institutionalisation of Stupidity; we would be fools if we didn’t grab it!
And, of course, such ‘foolishness’ carries a risk. Do ‘foolishness’ & Stupidity create a ‘null set’? Or is uncontrollable feedback likely? We just don’t know, these are questions requiring resources that only a global institution of Stupidity can fund.”
It can be seen that the management of Stupidity has reached a crisis. Under an illusion of its seeming abundance, Stupidity has been exploited for centuries. The degree to which Pidlington’s marketisation ideas are vulnerable to corruption by profit-driven intelligence is a relevant question here. But, unless effective interventions occur, Stupidity, our most valuable resource, could run out.