Der betörende Glanz der Dummheit

"Stupidity," says Esther Vilar, must be defined differently in the age of computers than in the decades before. Given the capabilities of electronic calculating machines, she advocates understanding intelligence as a combination of imagination and sensitivity. Stupidity is then characterized not by a lack of mathematical skill or comprehension but by a lack of creativity, a sense of humor, emotional coldness, and thoughtlessness. However, even though no one would want to be associated with such traits, this kind of "stupidity" seems almost a prerequisite for social advancement. Its allure is captivating. And it is found not only among the ruling class. Esther Vilar's brilliant psychogram of bourgeois society provocatively sharpens the analysis of the dominance of mediocrity and self-absorption. The book was first published in 1987. For the new edition, the author has reviewed it and added a current afterword.