LESSONS FROM STUPIDITY.

The article discusses the character known as the "Man from Song" (Songren) in early Chinese literature, highlighting his reputation for foolishness and the various philosophical lessons derived from his stories. These tales, found in texts such as the Liezi, Hanfeizi, and Huainanzi, illustrate different aspects of human folly, including the ineffective pursuit of goals and the failure to recognize practical realities. The Man from Song serves as a universal symbol of poor thinking, allowing for reflections on the nature of "wisdom" in Chinese philosophy, which contrasts with Western notions of wisdom as static contemplation. Ultimately, the article argues that the Man from Song's shortcomings exemplify a lack of "intelligence," as defined by John Dewey, where means and ends are misaligned, leading to ineffective actions. [Extracted from the article]