So, if you had to pick between being “ethical” (defined here as being helpful, giving, and natrually content) and “dumb” (defined here as being unable to learn things easily or well, and forgetting things often) or “unethical” (defined here as being selfish, petty, and greedy) and “smart” (defined here as being able to learn things quickly and well, and remembering things easily)?
Quotes added because it’s just my arbitrary definitions at work here.
Me, I already lean toward the “smart and evil” side, so I’d pick that.
Partly for religious reasons and partly because I’m just not a big fan of evil, so ummm… good and dumb, hands down. I have MMOs if I want to be smart and evil.
I would rather be smart and ethical. But if I HAD to choose between the options given, no way I’d want to go through life dumb. I’d have to go with smart and evil, my wickedness being my cross to bear.
As someone smart (my def: genius of overlord proportions) I won’t always hurt people because I can. If I can parse out a situation where not hurting others is in my self interest, I won’t always hurt people. A good/dumb person may tend to inadvertently hurt others trying to help (i.e. doing someone’s homework for them may seem nice and good but really hinders their learning).
Assuming I’m capable enough to take over the world, it will be in my best interest to keep my population content, therefore it is in my best interest to make sure conditions are good enough to make rebellion have little to no thought among the populous. Just because I’m evil and immoral doesn’t mean the practicality of a content populous wouldn’t be seen to someone with sufficient intellect. A good and dumb ruler may have a tendency to impose morality laws that could be seen as bad by the populous, feeding their outrage meters. Sure, you’re TRYING to help, but you lack of foresight and knowledge ends up doing more harm.
Of course, there are many, many unknowns. But my view is that the evil and smart person may overall actually lead to a better state of living than the person who doesn’t see their actions are hurting others (see: Lawful Good paladins slaughtering baby kobolds in D&D).
You people who are choosing good and dumb because of other people you’ve known who were smart and evil: Remember, you won’t be dealing with them. It’s YOU who will be the evil genius.
Smart and Evil - If I was so smart I would earn enough money to get some therapy to make me not so evil that or at christmas time i’ll get my scrooged moment…
