Hanlon, Dunning, and Others

Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity. In that same vein, David Dunning said: "An ignorant mind is precisely not a spotless, empty vessel, but one that’s filled with the clutter of irrelevant or misleading life experiences, theories, facts, intuitions, strategies, algorithms, heuristics, metaphors, and hunches that regrettably have the look and feel of useful and accurate knowledge." In other words, many people are incapable of recognizing their shortcomings and ignorance, so they compensate with greater confidence in the nonsense they think they know.

I have been lately reading more philosophy books, especially those relating to Stoicism. Moreover, I have been trying to put Stoic principles - courage, wisdom, moderation, and justice -- into practice. I wish I could report greater success.

One of the biggest problems I face as I age is my disappointment with others whose philosophy is either nonexistent (random) or faulty, coupled with my exhaustion from dealing with those people. Unfortunately, if I don't control my reactions to those people – another Stoic principle – I will push myself into a deep depression and perhaps insanity. On top of the stupid and ignorant, there are people who lack integrity, and are either sociopathic or psychotic.

I do not know how some people can engage in unprincipled acts without great shame followed by self correction. Am I more self-aware than most, or am I just as bad as they are? I do understand basic principles of self interest and survival, but I do not understand when comfortable or well-off people fail to act with integrity. It is, as I said, disappointing. Gratitude and loyalty mean less today.

The concept of loyalty has been tarnished by people like Donald Trump, who demand it when engaged in bad behavior. No, that kind of loyalty is not Stoic or principled. Loyalty, however, is important when it reflects appreciation of what someone has done for you, causing you to temper down your selfishness. Sacrifice for good principles is admirable; selfishness at the expense of others who helped you is disgusting. Lots of that, however, goes on. As Mark Twain said: "You can pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, and he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." I have learned that the hard way.

I have made many sacrifices over the years because I felt they were the right thing to do. I could probably list 50 off the top of my head. Perhaps that explains my disappointment in others. But I am glad I made those sacrifices, and perhaps that is why I am drawn to Stoicism.