This fact used to be known but seems to have been forgotten. The most intelligent philosophers were hated by the masses. If an argument about important matters such as history, philosophy, and politics isn't controversial, it is probably fraudulent.

There is an under-appreciation for what kind of intelligence is required to influence society. The average IQ in the West (90-100) could not be expected to philosophize. Major philosophers have had IQs much higher than 100, and their arguments are by default superior to anything a 100 or below could come up with, since IQ accounts for reasoning skills and ability to see "the bigger picture." A democratic argument will by its very nature include the opinions of the lowest of society. In other words the majority is doomed to produced inferior arguments. Rebellion against society is the first step to enlightenment.

Which philosophers are you talking about? Plato was respected enough to build the Academy; Aristotle (and even Diogenes) were sought by Alexander the Great; and Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of Rome. You can't really get more respect than that.

Or are we thinking more along the lines of Nietzsche? He was misunderstood for sure, but quite respected. Perhaps Marx? He had his friends and supporters, enough to make a living writing books that would piss a lot of people off.

I strongly agree. However you have underestimated the Western IQ.

I think you dont interact with people enough. The vast majority of the western population is just plain dumb.

^You gotta go out more tabby

Furthermore, I disagree that being hated by society is in any way good: being loved is better than being hated. Plus it's not even that hard to avoid being hated.

But I think that for this topic there's a powerful quote from Machiavel that could apply: "Better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both."

Have we gone to the point where people blame their unsuccesful social endeavors on societal stupidity instead of themselves?

We are close to 4chan levels, peeps. Keep digging.

^I thought we have already reached that point

At least Tabby started doing it a long time ago

Also:

If an argument about important matters such as history, philosophy, and politics isn't controversial, it is probably fraudulent.

This one is especially bullshit. Like, damn...

Edited 9/13/2017 12:58:16

Lol, that screams "Holohoax" in every way you can think of.

No one who notices that TeamGuns just called Cata 'Tabby'?

Just watch the ''some americans are ignorant and proud of it'' series, average american is dumb.

Edited 9/13/2017 16:06:32

No one who notices that TeamGuns just called Cata 'Tabby'?

Actually I was just agreing with Cata that Tabby should go out more, not that they were the same person, even though they are both cats to some degree...

Captain Cat: Civil Meow

There is an under-appreciation for what kind of intelligence is required to influence society.

I am reminded of the mathematician Sylvanus Thompson's saying,

Ancient simian proverb: What one fool can do another can.

What did he mean by that? Just this, it is a great accomplishment to invent The Calculus, but to learn how to use it is the sort of thing that any fool may do, if they have the inclination to do so.

Part of what made Socrates great was his ability to explain his ideas to everyman, which in part accounts for Athens treatment of the man. If no one could have understood him, he would not have been considered such a nuisance.

I agree with what that. Most names in history books belong to people that had an incredible gift. Most the people considered by students of history to be incompetent - take multiple US presidents and the current one for example - were at least above average intelligence. There is a base requirement for cerebral capacity needed to lead a revolution.

"Hated by the masses" means hated by at least 50% of people. You will hardly find a philosopher that wasn't in their time reviled by 50% of the total population of their society. I am of course excluding idiots like Hillary Clinton and Fareed Zakaria that write about the benefits of "liberal democracy". A basic education in classic all the way through 20th century philosophy, politics, and history is all that is needed to quickly reject the establishment's propaganda. I don't hold up Mein Kampf or Art of the Deal as monumental works either