Beyond Foolish

The Quest for the Scientific Measurement and Prevention of Human Stupidity

By: Aaron Brachfeld

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

There is a lot of stupid research out there. And many stupid questions remain. This book surveys, then builds upon the work of Cipolla, Dunning, Kruger, Peter, Murphy, and other luminous minds to explore the fascinating behaviors of Stupidity, Idiocy and Foolishness...and in doing so discovers the dangerous Villains who would make fools of us all, and a tenuous hope for our own Heroism. Would such heroism be brave … or stupid?

The easy and fun way in which this book simplifies mathematically challenging concepts lets you explore the latest advances of qualitative reasoning and computer science to see those seeds of common sense currently being planted in artificial intelligence, and glimpse an end to stupidity. Don't merely marvel at morons: easy-to-use detection systems are included in these pages to accurately measure the stupidity surrounding yourself at home and work - and prepare you to not only predict this dangerous phenomenon, but prevent it as well!

CONTENTS:
Introduction: the Village Idiot
Mathematically Defining, Scientifically Observing and Methodologically Analyzing Idiocy, Stupidity and Foolishness
Definitions and Observational Methodology
Axiomatic Definition of Stupidity
FIGURE 1: HUMAN STUPIDITY
Axiomatic Definition of Idiocy
FIGURE 2: HUMAN IDIOCY
FIGURE 3: MORONIC FOOLISHNESS
Axiomatic Definition of a Moron or Fool
Making Fools out of Intelligent People
Quantifying Measurements of Stupidity, Idiocy and Foolishness
Quantifying Stupidity, Idiocy and Foolishness
Relative Measurements and Objectivity
Why Objectivity is a Cause for Intelligence, Implications
Measurement of Ignorance is Always Subjective
Systemic Measurements
Stupid Assumptions
Idiotic and Foolish Assumptions
Foolproofing: the Game of Idiots
Applications of Game Theory
Logical Fallacy of the Premise of Free Choice
Foolishness is Sometimes Unavoidable and Maliciously Inflicted
Methods of Inducing Stupidity
Intelligence is Also Sometimes Unavoidable and May Be Bestowed
The Game of Idiots: Foolproofing
Fallacy that “A Fool and His Money are Soon Parted” : Fools are Not Nor Do They Become Resource-Poor
Relevance of Overplacement and Overestimation Bias to the Cause and Nature of Stupidity
Bias of Overplacement and Overestimation: the Dunning–Kruger Effect
Bias is Inevitable Due to the Way Competence is Obtained
A Measure of Competence: toward Quantitative Reasoning and Common Sense through Metacognition
Murphy’s Law and the Persistence of Fools
The Peter Principle and the Logic of Despair
Qualitative Reasoning as a Consequence of Metacognition
Magnitude of the Dunning-Kruger effect is variable
Fallacy of Quantitative Reasoning
Qualitative Reasoning, or “Common Sense”
Hanlon's Razor
Quality Control
Glimpses of Evil
Villainy
FIGURE 4: INCREASING COSTS OF VILLAINY OVER TIME
Axiomatic Definition of Villainy
The Intelligent Villain
Functional Sickness
Why “Do No Harm?”
Progression and Regression of Villainy
Losing and Gaining Trust
Preventing Attacks of Villains and Bandits Disguised as Fools
Weaponized Incompetence
Sabotage
Hate Crimes versus Terrorism: True Villainy
Heroes: Brave, or Stupid?
Conclusion - The Fool’s Journey: Ending Human Stupidity
Designing Defensive Systems Against Stupidity and Villainy
A New Management System
Profound Knowledge
The Limit of Foolishness
Suggested
Further Reading and Bibliography