Disregarding the fact that some people have mental conditions that limit their ability to process reality in the same ways as others, even on the other side of the spectrum where some are so intelligent that they have problems interfacing with society as their perception is very different—I would say that stupidity has more to do with ignorance than cognitive abilities.
Someone who’s not very able to logically deduce a solution to a problem or understand complexities in the same way as others—but who is able to know this about themselves, know their limits, and ask questions more than state conclusions (within a lacking understanding), is not someone I would call stupid.
This way of handling information, problems, complexities, and existence usually makes them able to operate within levels of intellectualism that they, by the measure of only their raw processing power in their brain, shouldn’t be able to. Because they are only operating slower, not worse. And if they know this and are patient with themselves being slower, they display a wisdom in the end that more or less trumps that of someone with faster brain power but who is more ignorant.
Stupidity then, is rather when someone ignores their own biases and shortcomings. Who are unable to see the flaws of their reasoning, who ignore when someone pokes holes in their arguments. Someone who is so sure of their conclusions and who ignores everything going against it.
Therefore, stupidity has nothing to do with intelligence. You can have the traditional view of the stupid person being someone of low brain processing speed and power, and at the same time being ignorant. That is the archetype of a stupid person; an example of this is the regular MAGA person being interviewed and ridiculed on their total lack of insight into their own flawed reasoning for what they stand for or observe in the world.
But you also find these stupid people at the top of the intelligence chain. A good example here is Jordan Peterson, who is undoubtedly an intelligent person when it comes to raw brain power, but who is so unable to see the flaws in his reasoning, or understand the objections to his argument, that he displays utter stupidity whenever he talks about anything.
So, if someone worries about themselves being stupid or not, I would say that’s a sign they’re not. As long as that worry comes in the form of an intuition of their own shortcomings, biases, and an ability to be open to new perspectives that helps shape their wisdom in the long run.
Stupidity is being closed and shut-in; intelligence is being open to many perspectives and aware of your own shortcomings. Wisdom is always operating in a fine-tuned method of approach to anything, able to always incorporate the self-awareness and understanding of one’s own approach and operation when dealing with a problem, question, or complexity.
