“DOH!” you say. Well, of course, people are idiots. But I’m going further than most people go when I say that people are idiots. I’m not saying that there are a lot of idiots out there — I’m saying that just about everybody is an idiot. I can think of a few exceptions… a very few.
To justify my extreme accusation, I’ll need to define my terms. So the first step is to explain what I mean by “idiot”. To do that, I will present a list of basic dimensions of intelligence. A non-idiot should be able to do all of these things competently:
1. Carry out simple boolean (black-and-white) analysis of a situation.
A person should be able to comprehend logical relationships, especially with regard to causality.
2. Carry out a simple numeric (gray) analysis of a situation.
Few real-world matters are simple black-and-white affairs; usually they exist in shades of gray, and a common idiotic act is to see black and white where there is grey.
3. Recognize the role of probability in causality.
Most real-world problems involve an element of probability. Most people don’t understand that simple truth.
4. Express reasonably interesting ideas clearly in writing.
Most people couldn’t write their way out of a paper bag. Even with spell checkers, they make gross spelling and grammatical errors. This shows up frequently on the web, with people who simply cannot put words together in a clear and logical manner.
5. Express reasonably interesting ideas clearly in speech.
This is the oral version of #4.
6. Make intellectual judgements on a rational rather than emotional basis.
This is a big one. I can think of only a few people who are truly rational.
7. Recognize social cues from others.
Social intelligence. Recognizing when other people are bored, impatient, disbelieving, etc.
8. Refrain from unnecessarily exciting emotional behavior in others.
Another manifestation of social intelligence. Knowing how to interact without triggering emotional responses.
9. Understand basic principles of science.
In today’s world, one must understand the basics of science.
10. Accumulate an adequate knowledge of current events.
You’re a citizen; you’re supposed to know the basic political situation and controversies.
11. Know the basic facts of human history.
Every heard of Greece or Rome or Napoleon or Montezuma or Jefferson?
12. Know some geography.
No, Paris is not in Persia, and Indonesia is not part of India, and they have plenty of food in Hungary.
13. Have an appreciation of art going beyond comic books and action movies.
This is especially hard on Americans. Have you read Shakespeare? The Iliad? Poetry?
14. Have a comprehension vocabulary of at least 25,000 words
“Vocabulary” means “how many words you know”.
15. Have an expressive vocabulary of at least 10,000 words.
This is how many words you actually use yourself.
16. Make an oral presentation.
You’ve got to be able to stand up in front of a group of people and present information.
17. Refrain from making the standard rhetorical errors.
Here’s a long list of common logical fallacies on Wikipedia