How Many Stupid People Are There? A Look at Human Judgment and Decision-Making

The Expert Podcast

Episode Description / Show Notes:

• This episode dives into a humorous yet thought-provoking concept: The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity, originally written by economist Carlo Cipolla in the 1970s.
• It’s not just entertainment—it’s a sharp look at how stupidity impacts our daily lives, decision-making, and society.
• Law #1: We always and inevitably underestimate the number of stupid individuals in circulation.
  • There are more stupid people out there than we think.
• Law #2: The probability that a person is stupid is independent of any other characteristic.
  • Being attractive, successful, or educated doesn’t exempt anyone from stupidity.
• Law #3: A stupid person is someone who causes harm to others without gaining anything themselves.
  • These people hurt or inconvenience others for no benefit—even to themselves.
• Law #4: Stupid people are evenly distributed across all groups.
  • No group—social, professional, or educational—is immune.
• We all do stupid things from time to time. Recognizing that stupidity exists in both ourselves and others helps us navigate life more wisely.
• Expecting rationality from everyone will often lead to disappointment.
• To discuss your own questions about human behavior, psychology, fraud, real estate, or decision-making, visit actualhum.com for one-on-one live consultations with licensed experts.
• Experts available include licensed investigators, insurance brokers, mortgage and real estate professionals, and more.
• Thank you for listening to another episode of Actual Human Advisory on Describe TV.