Ignorance vs Stupidity
All of us think what ignorance and stupidity mean. Ignorance is a state of simply not knowing about something, and there is no negative connotation attached with the word. Stupidity is the inability to understand or profit from experience. The real problem lies in dealing with these behaviors as there are similarities like lack of knowledge, but it often becomes difficult to differentiate between the two behaviors. How do you find out if one is ignorant or plain stupid? Let us take a closer look.
Ignorance
Ignorance is the antonym of knowledge, and if knowledge is light, ignorance is considered to be darkness. Ignorance is a state that can be transformed into a state of being knowledgeable. This is why if someone acts in ignorance, he is forgivable. You know that he has not acted willfully but because he lacked knowledge. If you see a toddler trying to place a fork inside an electric switch, you do not slap him hard because you know that the child is plain ignorant and has no knowledge of the risk he is taking or that he is placing himself in danger. It is only when kids are made aware of the misuse of the dangers of electricity, gas, fire, and water that they become knowledgeable and are no longer ignorant. If a child puts his hand inside the mouth of a dog or picks up a snake, he is doing so because of ignorance. It is only with experience or they being told about the dangers or pitfalls of such behavior that kids learn to avoid these behaviors.
There are inherent dangers of ignorance at the workplace where employees have to work with heavy machines or hazardous chemicals and gases. This is why only trained and knowledgeable workers are permitted to work where ignorance can lead to accidents. Mistakes are wonderful in the sense that they teach us a lot. However, ignorance can land us in trouble, in real life situations, and it is better to gain knowledge and experience to avoid being labeled a fool or stupid.
Stupidity
If someone is incapable of understanding, he is said to be stupid. Stupidity is a state of being extremely dull and senseless. Stupidity occurs in the presence of knowledge and a person can only be stupid if he is not ignorant. You don’t call a person stupid if you know he is ignorant. If you have knowledge but forget or do not apply it in a particular situation, you are being stupid. Stupidity is reduced in frequency as a person is exposed to a particular situation again and again. Application of gained knowledge makes a person avoid being called stupid.
Students are expected to make mistakes and hence do not classify as stupid while their teachers have all the knowledge and are not expected to make mistakes. However, there is a saying that the more you know, the more you realize how much there is that you still do not know.
What is the difference between Ignorance and Stupidity?
• Ignorance is a state of being in the dark without knowledge
• Stupidly is having the knowledge but not applying it to make mistakes again and again
• Ignorance is forgivable; stupidity is not
• Ignorant is one who has the potential but lacks knowledge
• Stupidity is incapability to understand while ignorance is not an impediment to knowledge