The term “fool” originally referred to someone who overestimated their wit and knowledge, but lacked social and intellectual skills. A “half-wit” may have some understanding of risks but lacks common sense, while a “dumb” person lacks the ability to think beyond the present moment. Plans that fail due to human error or short-sightedness may be described as “stupid.”
The term fool is said to have been coined in the late 17th century to describe someone who believes himself to be truly witty and knowledgeable, but who noticeably lacks the requisite intellectual and social skills. In the original sense, a half-wit wouldn’t necessarily be a dimwit or an idiot, just someone whose reach on wit far exceeded his own reach. The meaning later shifted to include those who were really ignorant or foolish.
A half-wit is generally more mentally efficient than a jerk or idiot, but the results are usually the same. A true fool might take on a complicated project but lack the common sense to correct problems along the way or predict potential problems. The idea or design may be perfectly reasonable, but the execution may be considered narrow-minded. Building a new prison would be a laudable goal, for example, but locating it near an elementary school would be a dumb job.
The best way to describe a half-wit might be dangerously stupid. Unlike a real idiot or idiot who can’t grasp the risks of his actions, a half-wit can have at least a partial understanding of the risks and still does. A half-wit understands what a stick of dynamite can do and how to light the fuse, but may not have the common sense to warn others before using it. A stupid person is not necessarily mentally retarded, but often lacks the ability to think beyond the present moment.
The term dumb is often used as an insult against people of seemingly normal intelligence who happen to have a brain fart at a critical moment. When a plan that seems perfectly doable on paper fails in the real world due to human error or short-sightedness, many people wonder which fools should be held responsible for the failure. Similarly, a politically motivated solution to a crisis may be described by critics as stupid if it appears to be hastily conceived or poorly executed.
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