It is not an issue of intelligence vs stupidity. Everybody/one can only make (mental) models of reality. The danger while "deadly" without being immediate lies

It is not an issue of intelligence vs stupidity. Everybody/one can only make (mental) models of reality. The danger while "deadly" without being immediate lies in that people (true on institutional and societal level as well) try to avoid a feedback loop to inform their models. Feedbacks imply evolution. People reject data points because they believe their models too much; they are in love with their intelligence. And this is in my view more proper way of start thinking about this. Do not love your intelligence, do not worship it less you become "stupid". There is always a circumstance, an issue or topic which you will be ignorant and your own mental model of reality and of yourself will be wrong. Knowing is a process not a destination (perhaps too simple a statement but does cover the essence of things).