Three Great Forces Rule the World: Stupidity

“Three great forces rule the world: Stupidity, Fear, and Greed,” Albert Einstein told us - and it’s easy to see he nailed it.
We see all three, all around us, all the time.

The first of these, stupidity, enables the others: if not for personal and institutional stupidity, the greedy couldn’t leverage the fear that allow the greedy to do the harm they do. Stupidity - and functional stupidity, in particular - is a serious problem in the world, not just today but throughout history. This short read summarizes that history, explores the nature of stupidity, and seeks to explain how it gets out of control.