A Human Stupidity and its Value

The aim of this text is to analyse the concept of stupidity. Contrary to many other themes and topics in psychology and other social sciences, including management sciences, there has been almost a total absence of interest by academics to understand and delve with stupid actions, stupid individuals, and stupid groups. This gap is rather surprising, as stupid acts and their consequences are probably as important as intelligent ones, if not more. The gap also represents an important fault in the said sciences, and partly justified by the fact that stupidity is generally taken as something to avoid, to remove, or to decrease by any possible means. The manuscript introduces some of the few authors who have published about the theme. Of particular interest are Bonhoeffer’s perspective and Cipolla’s five laws of stupidity. The article further advances a taxonomy of reasons explaining idiocy, and ends with the idea that stupidity can be positive and/or generate value for the individuals or communities who come in contact with the idiotic deeds or thoughts.