Fool: a person who acts unwisely or imprudently (not showing care for the consequences of an action; rash); a silly person ( having or showing a lack of common sense or judgment; absurd...): what a fool I was to do this. (New Oxford American Dictionary).
The element common to all four types of foolish approaches to life listed in the question is self-absorption (arising from whatever reason–fear, a sense of inferiority, herculean efforts to be special in artificial ways).
The “intellectual seeker” refers not to someone sincerely seeking to understand, but to someone seeking merely to convey the sheen of knowledge without having a true passion and love for it. The person is self-absorbed for he desires most to be seen as in that special class of intellectuals that excludes all but the uppermost layer – a self-appointed mutual admiration coterie (well-deserving each other).
The practical atheist is the religious pretender who seeks to appear ineffably in tune with the most obtuse doctrine, but in actuality lacks the faith to risk safety for a second. He is self-absorbed because the true basis of his religion is not trust but innate fear.
The self-destructive person is fixated on self and does not lift his eyes to see the need of others for kindness, encouragement, and love. He is a Johnny-One-Note of negativity that finally mows down all possible sources of help.
One unhealthy in relationships seeks to control others–although this can be veiled in cloying dependency. The self-absorbed individually is deeply enervating to healthy relationships.
The question asks: Have I ever been a fool? I claim exemption from no foolish behavior; yet friends have occasionally stayed my hand.
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