Abhijit Naskar's Blog - Posts Tagged "intellect"
Why Entertainers are More Appealing to the Masses than Scholars
Stop making stupid people famous. Such goes the saying. Everybody has heard of it. Everybody knows what it implies, yet, that very everybody, or at least, almost everybody, never thinks twice before “making stupid people famous”. Hence, I have said in my book “Mission Reality” – “Stupid people make stupid people famous”. But why? Is there a deeper reason behind such a primitive act? Is there something more than mere stupidity? Is this stupidity really that stupid or does it have some incomprehensible value which can only be discovered if we see past the surface of such behavior!
If we speak empirically, then there is no such thing as stupid or wise in the kingdom of nature, for the kingdom of nature is governed by only one quality, and that is survival potential. If a behavior exists, it does so, because it has some sort of survival potential attached to it. And this is the reason why scholars, such as scientists and philosophers are way less appealing to the masses in comparison to entertainers such as filmstars, singers or sportspersons.
Scholars (including scientists, philosophers, doctors, teachers, innovators and many more, involved in the practice of science, technology and philosophy) make some of the greatest physical contributions in the health, prosperity and progress of the human species, take away the scholars and all progress will come to a standstill, yet most of them spend their life in anonymity outside the tiny circle of their distinct field. On the other hand, entertainers are seen by people from all walks of life as some form of all-knowing prophet – if they say, a certain health drink is good, the masses would most naively embrace that health drink in their life – if they say, a certain watch or perfume or handbag is the symbol of elegance, the masses would most blindly run after it – and if they run for office, the masses would most stupidly vote for them, without actually knowing their psychological capacity to run a people.
Here, I beg you not to think of all entertainers to be stupid, rather what I am pointing out is that, the expertise of an entertainer is in entertaining, so you should give them as much reverence as they deserve, not more than that. They are not expert in medical issues – they are not expert in running a people – they are not expert in anything except their work in entertainment – just like, I am not an expert in Chemistry or Physics or Mathematics – I am a Biologist and that’s where all my attention is placed. So, if you have a question about Quantum Physics, you must not ask me, rather you must ask a Physicist. And the same is true for every other expert in the world – be it an expert of science, mathematics or arts. For example, my favorite actors are Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, and I enjoy their work immensely, but I don’t expect them to have a deep insight into human nature, just because they were and still remain quite famous – that’s my job, just like their job was to hold up a mirror in front of the society through their acting.
Now the big question is, why do people fall prey to the charm of celebrities and confuse their charisma to be the sign of wisdom, in most cases quite subconsciously? This behavior goes back millions of years. When our ancestors lived in the jungle amidst other animals, the chances of survival of the tribe increased in proportion to their blind loyalty to the alpha, a character with leadership characteristics, which mostly consisted of an absurd amount of confidence and charm. And this evolutionary instinct of attraction to confidence and charm still remains rather dominant in the common human psyche, which makes them vulnerable to the spell of charisma, even if that charisma has no content of character or wisdom underneath it.
In everyday life of the common human, reason takes a back seat and emotions dictate all significant behavior. “Erase the emotions and you would erase the most important part of what it’s like to be human” (as said in Mission Reality). In short, no matter what you say, if you can say it with such a confidence that it touches people at an emotional level, then you can make them believe in anything – you can make think anything – you can make them do anything.
In the human society, being famous is not the same as being right. Because people who make individuals famous, do not care about right or wrong – they don’t care about truth and reasoning – they are subconsciously driven by their instinct for survival, towards confidence, charm and charisma, just like moths are drawn towards a burning candle to face their inevitable demise.
I’m afraid, if the humans do not learn to make conscious and conscientious efforts to place their attention on character and wisdom, instead of on charm and charisma, then the demise of humankind is inevitable. Here, one may wonder, how can an entire society of humans change their behavior overnight! And the reality is, such a transformation or change cannot take place overnight, moreover, it won’t happen all at once. All change begins with the individual. When we change, the world will change.
Recommended Reading:
All For Acceptance
Mission Reality
Citation: Abhijit Naskar. “Why Entertainers are More Appealing to the Masses than Scholars”. EC Psychology and Psychiatry 8.10 (2019): 1083-1084.
If we speak empirically, then there is no such thing as stupid or wise in the kingdom of nature, for the kingdom of nature is governed by only one quality, and that is survival potential. If a behavior exists, it does so, because it has some sort of survival potential attached to it. And this is the reason why scholars, such as scientists and philosophers are way less appealing to the masses in comparison to entertainers such as filmstars, singers or sportspersons.
Scholars (including scientists, philosophers, doctors, teachers, innovators and many more, involved in the practice of science, technology and philosophy) make some of the greatest physical contributions in the health, prosperity and progress of the human species, take away the scholars and all progress will come to a standstill, yet most of them spend their life in anonymity outside the tiny circle of their distinct field. On the other hand, entertainers are seen by people from all walks of life as some form of all-knowing prophet – if they say, a certain health drink is good, the masses would most naively embrace that health drink in their life – if they say, a certain watch or perfume or handbag is the symbol of elegance, the masses would most blindly run after it – and if they run for office, the masses would most stupidly vote for them, without actually knowing their psychological capacity to run a people.
Here, I beg you not to think of all entertainers to be stupid, rather what I am pointing out is that, the expertise of an entertainer is in entertaining, so you should give them as much reverence as they deserve, not more than that. They are not expert in medical issues – they are not expert in running a people – they are not expert in anything except their work in entertainment – just like, I am not an expert in Chemistry or Physics or Mathematics – I am a Biologist and that’s where all my attention is placed. So, if you have a question about Quantum Physics, you must not ask me, rather you must ask a Physicist. And the same is true for every other expert in the world – be it an expert of science, mathematics or arts. For example, my favorite actors are Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart, and I enjoy their work immensely, but I don’t expect them to have a deep insight into human nature, just because they were and still remain quite famous – that’s my job, just like their job was to hold up a mirror in front of the society through their acting.
Now the big question is, why do people fall prey to the charm of celebrities and confuse their charisma to be the sign of wisdom, in most cases quite subconsciously? This behavior goes back millions of years. When our ancestors lived in the jungle amidst other animals, the chances of survival of the tribe increased in proportion to their blind loyalty to the alpha, a character with leadership characteristics, which mostly consisted of an absurd amount of confidence and charm. And this evolutionary instinct of attraction to confidence and charm still remains rather dominant in the common human psyche, which makes them vulnerable to the spell of charisma, even if that charisma has no content of character or wisdom underneath it.
In everyday life of the common human, reason takes a back seat and emotions dictate all significant behavior. “Erase the emotions and you would erase the most important part of what it’s like to be human” (as said in Mission Reality). In short, no matter what you say, if you can say it with such a confidence that it touches people at an emotional level, then you can make them believe in anything – you can make think anything – you can make them do anything.
In the human society, being famous is not the same as being right. Because people who make individuals famous, do not care about right or wrong – they don’t care about truth and reasoning – they are subconsciously driven by their instinct for survival, towards confidence, charm and charisma, just like moths are drawn towards a burning candle to face their inevitable demise.
I’m afraid, if the humans do not learn to make conscious and conscientious efforts to place their attention on character and wisdom, instead of on charm and charisma, then the demise of humankind is inevitable. Here, one may wonder, how can an entire society of humans change their behavior overnight! And the reality is, such a transformation or change cannot take place overnight, moreover, it won’t happen all at once. All change begins with the individual. When we change, the world will change.
Recommended Reading:
All For Acceptance
Mission Reality
Citation: Abhijit Naskar. “Why Entertainers are More Appealing to the Masses than Scholars”. EC Psychology and Psychiatry 8.10 (2019): 1083-1084.
Ain’t Good People (The Sonnet)
Ain’t no good people we,
If goodness means blindness.
Ain’t no practical folks we,
If practicality means selfishness.
Ain’t no sane citizens we,
If sanity means indifference.
Ain’t no smart bunch we,
If smartness brings arrogance.
Ain’t no articulate minds we,
If articulation means mindless accuracy.
Ain’t no civilized society we,
If civilization means hypocrisy.
We are the force capable of mastering a planet.
Let’s live not as machines but conscience incarnate.
If goodness means blindness.
Ain’t no practical folks we,
If practicality means selfishness.
Ain’t no sane citizens we,
If sanity means indifference.
Ain’t no smart bunch we,
If smartness brings arrogance.
Ain’t no articulate minds we,
If articulation means mindless accuracy.
Ain’t no civilized society we,
If civilization means hypocrisy.
We are the force capable of mastering a planet.
Let’s live not as machines but conscience incarnate.
Facts and Belief (The Sonnet) | Handcrafted Humanity
No belief is worth losing your humanity over,
No intellect is worth losing your kindness over.
Facts, faith, reason, religion all come later,
First and foremost we must humanize our behavior.
If a belief or intellect makes you a better person,
More power to your belief or intellect I say.
But if they become a hindrance to your humanity,
Throw it immediately like poison far, far away.
Beliefs have cast shadows of wars throughout history,
Facts have provided weapons for those wars.
Then again beliefs have taught us to love our neighbor,
Facts have helped us fight calamity and disorders.
Let all beliefs and facts be guided by a warm heart.
Warmth alone will make our world fit for human birth.
No intellect is worth losing your kindness over.
Facts, faith, reason, religion all come later,
First and foremost we must humanize our behavior.
If a belief or intellect makes you a better person,
More power to your belief or intellect I say.
But if they become a hindrance to your humanity,
Throw it immediately like poison far, far away.
Beliefs have cast shadows of wars throughout history,
Facts have provided weapons for those wars.
Then again beliefs have taught us to love our neighbor,
Facts have helped us fight calamity and disorders.
Let all beliefs and facts be guided by a warm heart.
Warmth alone will make our world fit for human birth.
Sonnet of Science | Handcrafted Humanity
Science is but a bridge of time, it can,
Either take us forward or dump us in prehistory.
Science alone does not ensure our advancement,
Unless it's practiced with warmth and accountability.
Sheer reason without any sentiment is,
As dangerous as sheer sentiment without any reason.
In order to forge a world fit for humans,
We must break the ice between reason and emotion.
Problem is that we like picking sides,
Either we are too emotional or too rational.
A civilized human ought to be none of that,
A civilized human acts upon the need of the situation.
So I say o mighty human, be not an intellectual moron.
Science is a means of service, not intellectual gratification.
Either take us forward or dump us in prehistory.
Science alone does not ensure our advancement,
Unless it's practiced with warmth and accountability.
Sheer reason without any sentiment is,
As dangerous as sheer sentiment without any reason.
In order to forge a world fit for humans,
We must break the ice between reason and emotion.
Problem is that we like picking sides,
Either we are too emotional or too rational.
A civilized human ought to be none of that,
A civilized human acts upon the need of the situation.
So I say o mighty human, be not an intellectual moron.
Science is a means of service, not intellectual gratification.
Sonnet of Fields | Handcrafted Humanity
Art is a mirror of time that shows,
What's been, is and could be.
Science is a bridge of time,
That helps us build the future to be.
Philosophy is a spank on the tank,
That makes us cautious of mistakes.
Faith is but an imaginary friend,
That fills in when the sky darkens.
Education is a liaison to social lanes,
That arms us to engineer new lanes.
Medicine is a keeper of health,
That helps us overcome sickness.
Each social field has a noble cause,
Whether they fulfill it depends on action of ours.
What's been, is and could be.
Science is a bridge of time,
That helps us build the future to be.
Philosophy is a spank on the tank,
That makes us cautious of mistakes.
Faith is but an imaginary friend,
That fills in when the sky darkens.
Education is a liaison to social lanes,
That arms us to engineer new lanes.
Medicine is a keeper of health,
That helps us overcome sickness.
Each social field has a noble cause,
Whether they fulfill it depends on action of ours.
Beyond Inclusion (The Sonnet) | Handcrafted Humanity
It is not really inclusion that we must aim for,
Rather we must work to outgrow the need for inclusion.
It is not really global harmony that we must aim for,
We must outgrow the very term international relations.
It is not really a reform in policy that we must aim for,
Rather we must aim to outgrow the need for policy aids.
It is not really social awareness we must aim to advocate,
Rather we must be the living epitome of social oneness.
It is not a flea market of parties that we must aim to build,
Rather we must turn the very term partisanism obsolete.
It is not a junkyard of ideologies that we must aim to raise,
Absorbing good from all, let us stop being ideological elites.
Plenty of time we have wasted on arguments of philosophy.
Now let’s go out on the streets and soil to get our hands dirty.
Rather we must work to outgrow the need for inclusion.
It is not really global harmony that we must aim for,
We must outgrow the very term international relations.
It is not really a reform in policy that we must aim for,
Rather we must aim to outgrow the need for policy aids.
It is not really social awareness we must aim to advocate,
Rather we must be the living epitome of social oneness.
It is not a flea market of parties that we must aim to build,
Rather we must turn the very term partisanism obsolete.
It is not a junkyard of ideologies that we must aim to raise,
Absorbing good from all, let us stop being ideological elites.
Plenty of time we have wasted on arguments of philosophy.
Now let’s go out on the streets and soil to get our hands dirty.
The Motto Sonnet | Dervish Advaitam
Hard as steel and soft as flower,
That's the motto for a civilized human.
Tough as thunder, sweet as honey,
That's the motto for a braveheart human.
Not too much unguided sentiments,
Not too much intellectual coldness,
To give either of them total slack,
Is to bring destruction and lifelessness.
Corazón primero, después dinero,*
Thus speaks the human of revolution.
Humanidad primero, después verdad,**
That's the motto for the being of evolution.
Strength, warmth ‘n reason, all are needed.
And all are to be guided by oneness uncorrupted.
(*Heart first, money later. **Humanity first, truth later.)
That's the motto for a civilized human.
Tough as thunder, sweet as honey,
That's the motto for a braveheart human.
Not too much unguided sentiments,
Not too much intellectual coldness,
To give either of them total slack,
Is to bring destruction and lifelessness.
Corazón primero, después dinero,*
Thus speaks the human of revolution.
Humanidad primero, después verdad,**
That's the motto for the being of evolution.
Strength, warmth ‘n reason, all are needed.
And all are to be guided by oneness uncorrupted.
(*Heart first, money later. **Humanity first, truth later.)
Honor He Wrote Sonnet 96
Only a few understand the language of intellect,
Then most of them arrogantly boast and trod.
But from the tallest mountain to tiniest grass,
Everyone understands the language of love.
I've practiced all faith 'n ideology for a brief period,
And I accept all of them to be equally human.
That is why everyone thinks of me as their very own,
Everyone thinks, I am their own school’s person.
I have no sect of my own, yet I am in every sect,
I have no school of my own, yet I am in every school.
One who loves, loves all no matter their label,
And finds a reflection in all beings including the fool.
There is no two, but only One that there ever is.
All separation is the sign of a spirit selfish.
Then most of them arrogantly boast and trod.
But from the tallest mountain to tiniest grass,
Everyone understands the language of love.
I've practiced all faith 'n ideology for a brief period,
And I accept all of them to be equally human.
That is why everyone thinks of me as their very own,
Everyone thinks, I am their own school’s person.
I have no sect of my own, yet I am in every sect,
I have no school of my own, yet I am in every school.
One who loves, loves all no matter their label,
And finds a reflection in all beings including the fool.
There is no two, but only One that there ever is.
All separation is the sign of a spirit selfish.
Honor He Wrote Sonnet 53
Better a marvelheaded idiot,
Than a marbleheaded bigot.
Better a self-proclaimed dope,
Than an arrogant dilettante.
Better a kindhearted commoner,
Than a cockeyed intellectualist.
Better an egalitarian infidel,
Than a dogmatizing evangelist.
All dogmas are born in the mind,
So is the duster to wipe them.
It is up to you what will you be,
Vessel of dogma or the duster untamed!
Convert none, help all, without imposition.
Let uplift be the motive behind all conviction.
Than a marbleheaded bigot.
Better a self-proclaimed dope,
Than an arrogant dilettante.
Better a kindhearted commoner,
Than a cockeyed intellectualist.
Better an egalitarian infidel,
Than a dogmatizing evangelist.
All dogmas are born in the mind,
So is the duster to wipe them.
It is up to you what will you be,
Vessel of dogma or the duster untamed!
Convert none, help all, without imposition.
Let uplift be the motive behind all conviction.
Be A Tesla (The Sonnet) | High Voltage Habib
In a world full of Elon Musks,
Be a Dan Price.
Use entrepreneurship to instill equity,
Not as a vessel of disparity’s vice.
In a world full of Jordan Petersons,
Be a Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Use intellect to expand perception,
Not to turn back the clock of primitivity.
In a world full of Donald Trumps,
Be a Dolly Parton, be an Ocasio-Cortez.
Use fame and politics to alleviate anguish,
Not to feed on people’s distress.
Let others adore the crook Edison all they wanna.
You for one be a Marie Curie, be a Nikola Tesla.
Be a Dan Price.
Use entrepreneurship to instill equity,
Not as a vessel of disparity’s vice.
In a world full of Jordan Petersons,
Be a Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Use intellect to expand perception,
Not to turn back the clock of primitivity.
In a world full of Donald Trumps,
Be a Dolly Parton, be an Ocasio-Cortez.
Use fame and politics to alleviate anguish,
Not to feed on people’s distress.
Let others adore the crook Edison all they wanna.
You for one be a Marie Curie, be a Nikola Tesla.
