The most dangerous of all time
Gabriele's text offers a sharp and logically coherent reflection on the transformation of the value of knowledge in contemporary society. His analysis unfolds on a clear dichotomy between a past where knowledge was revered and a present where it is replaced by superficial factors. This contrast, although it may idealize the past, effectively highlights current critical issues. The internal coherence is strong: the devaluation of knowledge leads to the emergence of an ignorance that is no longer shameful, which in turn generates a preference for superficiality and a rejection of depth, culminating in the silence of "intelligent" people and the promotion of stupidity.
Gabriele's observations find ample support in today's social and communicative phenomena. The emphasis on "how convincing you are" or "how many times you have been seen" rather than on "what you know" is a fitting description of the culture of influencers and social media, where visibility and the ability to generate engagement often prevail over competence or factual truth.
Events like the viral spread of fake news or conspiracy theories, which often get more "likes" and shares than in-depth, fact-based reporting, demonstrate how noise can effectively silence reason and how emotional persuasiveness can overcome logic.
The assertion that "ignorance has lost its shame" and has declared itself "the voice of the people" manifests in populist and anti-expert movements, where distrust in institutions and established sources of knowledge leads to elevating uninformed opinion to the rank of truth. Resistance to science, for example, in areas like climate change or public health, often does not stem from a lack of access to information, but from a voluntary "unwillingness to know," preferring simpler and reassuring narratives, the "shallow waters" that do not require intellectual effort or confrontation with uncomfortable truths.
The silence of the intelligentsia, forced to not "translate themselves into a language that is in itself an insult to reason," is a dynamic observable in public debate, where complexity and nuances are often sacrificed in the name of excessive simplification. Experts who attempt to explain complex concepts are sometimes labeled as "inaccessible" or "arrogant," while those who propose simplistic and immediate solutions receive more attention.
This leads to a society where "it is no longer a matter of who knows, but of whom we trust," and trust is given to those who do not disturb, do not ask for effort, and do not ask questions, thus reinforcing echo chambers and confirmation bubbles.
The final criticism, that "the stupid teach the intelligent to be silent" not for discussion but for "majority," is a profound analysis of the risk inherent in digital democracy and the tyranny of numerical majority. The spread of misinformation, where virality and the number of shares can mistakenly confer authority on false content, is a glaring example of how the majority does not equal truth. The concluding observation that stupidity no longer seeks to be hidden but respected, and even promoted, is particularly alarming. If a lack of critical thinking and misinformation are actively encouraged or protected, the consequences for the collective ability to make informed decisions and face the challenges of the real world can be catastrophic. Gabriele's text is not a nostalgic lament, but a lucid and well-argued analysis of a dangerous trend, supported by widely observable social dynamics.