Short History Of Stupidity, A

From the Ancient Athenians to the global village idiots of the internet, the poet and critic Patrick McGuinness traces the way the concept of stupidity has been represented by philosophers and writers.

Why is genius is so preoccupied with stupidity? There have been many histories of knowledge and its acquisition, but very few of its problematic other, stupidity.

Yet stupidity has been obsessively represented throughout cultural and literary history.

With contributions from Umberto Eco, Susan Sontag, Avital Ronell, Malcolm Bowie and MARY BEARD.