Gurdjieff introduced his toast to the Idiots in 1922, and from 1940 gave it increasing emphasis. Although not divesting idiot of its pejorative sense, he re-invested it with the meaning of individuality (from a Greek root meaning I make my own). Though idiocy was universal - God himself being the Unique idiot (No.21) - a subsidiary differentiation afforded a human typology at once poetic and profound. David Hodges contributes: Herewith the most complete list possible of Gurdjieffs Order of Idiots, with thanks to Marcia Paul. 1 ordinary idiot 2 super idiot 3 arch idiot 4 hopeless idiot 5 compassionate idiot 6 squirming idiot 7 square idiot 8 round idiot 9 zigzag idiot 10 enlightened idiot 11 doubting idiot 12 swaggering idiot 13 born idiot 14 patented idiot 15 psychopathic idiot 16 polyhedral idiot Idiots 17-21 constituted a spiritual hierarchy, reflecting progressive gradations of objective reason Idiot 18 presented the highest development which a human being could reach, but in order to attain it, he had first voluntarily to descend again from 17 to 1, the ordinary idiot. Idiots 19 and 21 were reserved for the sons of God. 21 - Unique Idiot (God himself being the Unique idiot) Source: Moore, J.B. 1991. Gurdjieff - A biography. Element Books Limited, Shaftesbury, Dorset.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 22:08:19 +0000