Robert Greene wrote that, according to the ancient Greeks, "…far more harm is caused in this world by stupidity and incompetence than outright evil."
It's a counterintuitive idea that initially catches us off guard.
No, we tell ourselves, evil people cause more evil in the world…
Greene's point is that overtly evil people do not have the element of surprise, which can be spotted and combatted against. We have a cue that allows us to fight back — namely, that we are aware of the evil they intend to commit.
However, with ignorance or stupidity, the individual may be a perfectly gentile, kind individual. We let our guard around those types of people. We trust them. They would never do that.
How we view them and the subsequent comfort we feel (e.g., dropping our guard) allows for some of the most devastating acts to slip through, unexpectedly.
It's the carefree coworker on the conference call who repeats the inside joke between you two without being on mute. The longtime friend who lets your secret slip because they weren't paying attention to who was in the room. The Homer Simpsons at the nuclear reactor control panel.
To drive the point home, Greene quotes Margaret Atwood;
Stupidity is the same as evil if you judge by the results.
Hanlon's Razor
The idea becomes even more convoluted when we view it through the lens of Hanlon's razor.
A razor is a philosophical device that 'cuts' through to truth succinctly. The most popular of which is Occam's razor;
It is futile to do with more that which can be done with fewer.
A razor is akin to a mental heuristic in psychology.
Hanlon's razor guides us to…
never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
This is a more pleasant way to view the world, thinking people just don't know what they do — a sort of forced empathy. However, when combining the idea with Greene's law, the initial concerns raised above are amplified.
Assume positive intent?
It is an empathetic best practice to always assume a person's intent is positive. Think of what they did in the most positive light, they didn't mean it that way, etc. But if Hanlon's razor is correct, it feeds into the law presented by Greene for a more cynical view of the world than initially thought.
Suddenly, we find ourselves preferring to assume malice, as it is less dangerous to always be on guard. This also reduces the risk of the extra-damaging ignorance-fueled actions — but at what cost?
How does this apply to our professional life? Our social life?
Social life implications
Greene is a master strategist, writing on seduction, power, and human nature. The view of cynicism fed by Hanlon's razor and the idea of stupidity being more dangerous than malice makes sense. In business and in social interactions, without trust as an underlying component, it is always advisable to step into the situation more cautiously.
However, I argue that the divide between professional and personal life should be kept clear. The assumption of malice toward those in your personal life — hell, even stupidity — should cause concern. If you do not trust the individuals in your social life…don't have them in your social life.
Greene and Hanlon flow seamlessly together when business or work is involved. You do not get to choose whether to keep those people in your life (short of quitting your job and finding a new one). But, if Greene and Hanlon's advice fits for individuals with whom you consistently surround yourself socially, you are doing yourself a disservice.
Cultivate a positive circle
That high school friend you still talk to, even though your lives and values have completely changed, or the college roommate you used to get drunk with every Tuesday. If malice can be assumed reasonably, or, more dangerously, stupidity at the risk of harming you, should you really keep them in your life?
It is expected to cull friendships from time to time. As we age, we change. It's called growth. Not every tree or branch grows in the same direction, and that is OK. Make new friends that mirror your values, or, even better, that exude the values you want to have. The common expression is that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with — surround yourself with those that will bring you up, not those who drag you down because you were friends a decade ago.
Use the advice from Greene and Hanlon in two ways:
- Stay on your guard in business and know that the results are all that matter when looking at evil vs. stupidity;
- And if you find yourself needing to adapt this mentality for someone in your personal life, that individual likely doesn't belong in your social circle.