How to Read “下衆の後知恵”
Gesu no atodjie
Meaning of “下衆の後知恵”
“Vulgar person’s hindsight wisdom” refers to people who couldn’t say anything at the time, but after things are over, they arrogantly criticize saying “they should have done this” or “they should have done that.”
This proverb warns against the behavior of people who cannot offer constructive opinions or suggestions beforehand, but show off their wisdom like playing rock-paper-scissors after seeing the opponent’s hand once the results are out. Anyone can critique from a safe position looking back, while staying silent during important decision-making moments.
It is used in situations such as people who say “I thought it was impossible from the beginning” after a project fails, or people who comment “they should have passed at that moment” after a sports match. Such hindsight wisdom provides no help to those involved and only causes discomfort.
Even today, the reason for using this expression is clear. It points out the irresponsibility of critiquing after the fact from a position that bears no responsibility, and the unconstructive attitude, in order to encourage more active and positive engagement.
Origin and Etymology
To understand the origin of “Vulgar person’s hindsight wisdom,” we first need to know the original meaning of the word “gesu” (vulgar person). While it tends to be used today to refer to people of low character, historically it referred to people of low social status, particularly servants and attendants.
The background to the birth of this proverb lies in the strict class system of the Edo period. At that time, important decisions and judgments were mainly made by people of higher social status such as samurai and merchants, and it was common for lower-class workers to follow those decisions. However, saying “they should have done this” or “they should have done that” after things are over is something anyone can do regardless of their position.
What’s particularly interesting is that this proverb doesn’t simply express class differences, but sharply points to human psychological characteristics. People who couldn’t say anything when asked for their opinion beforehand suddenly become talkative after the results are out – people of that time probably expressed this phenomenon through the easily understood framework of the class system.
It is thought to have become established from the late Muromachi period to the Edo period, and became widely used among common people. Even as times have changed, this fundamental human tendency remains unchanged, which is why it has been passed down to the present day.
Usage Examples
- He didn’t say anything during the meeting, but after the project failed, he’s only offering vulgar person’s hindsight wisdom
- He wasn’t even cheering during the match, but as soon as they lost, he started criticizing the manager with vulgar person’s hindsight wisdom
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, “Vulgar person’s hindsight wisdom” has taken on new meaning with the spread of social media and the internet. In highly anonymous online spaces, an environment has been created where anyone can act like an expert and develop after-the-fact critiques.
Particularly notable are post-event critiques of corporate management decisions, political decisions, and sports tactics. The sight of people who made no statements in real time suddenly commenting “as expected” or “I knew it from the beginning” once results become clear has become commonplace. This can be called a modern version of “Vulgar person’s hindsight wisdom.”
On the other hand, in the information society, advance predictions and analysis have also become important. Situations requiring data-based predictions and expert preliminary analysis have increased. However, result-oriented critiques still continue unabated.
Interestingly, in modern times, the class-based nuance of the word “gesu” has faded, and it is often used simply to mean “irresponsible hindsight.” This can be said to be a change reflecting the democratization and equalization of society.
The reason this proverb still applies today is that fundamental human psychological tendencies haven’t changed. The human nature of wanting to critique from a safe position is universal across time.
When AI Hears This
“Gesu no atodie” (the hindsight of lowly people) serves as evidence that people in Edo-period Japan had already keenly observed what modern psychology calls “hindsight bias.” This cognitive bias, scientifically proven by Baruch Fischhoff in the 1970s, is the psychological phenomenon where people feel they “knew it would happen all along” after an event occurs.
What’s fascinating is that this bias occurs regardless of knowledge level. In Fischhoff’s experiments, when college students were told the outcomes of historical events and then asked “how predictable was this beforehand,” they reported significantly higher predictability than groups who weren’t told the results. In other words, hindsight bias is a universal cognitive distortion that happens regardless of education level.
However, the expression “gesu no atodie” limits this phenomenon to “people of low status.” While this reflects the influence of Edo period’s class-based society, it actually captures how hindsight bias manifests socially. People with lower status or expertise tend not to understand the uncertainty involved in complex situational judgments, and are more likely to declare “it was obvious” after seeing the results.
Even today, we routinely see people without specialized knowledge saying “I thought that strategy was wrong” after a sports match, or claiming “I saw it coming” after stock price fluctuations. The people of Edo expressed this human cognitive trait through the social context of “gesu” (the lowly).
Lessons for Today
What “Vulgar person’s hindsight wisdom” teaches modern people is the importance of timing in speech. Truly valuable opinions and suggestions demonstrate their power precisely at the moment they are most needed.
In modern society, an environment has been created where anyone can become a critic. However, this is precisely why the ability to judge “when and what to say” becomes important. Constructive criticism is welcome, but after-the-fact critiques that carry no responsibility not only damage human relationships but also cause you to lose credibility.
What’s important is having the courage to speak at the appropriate timing. You don’t need to have perfect answers. An attitude of thinking together or raising constructive questions is also a worthy contribution. Rather than staying silent out of fear of failure, choosing imperfect but positive participation is far more valuable.
This proverb makes us think about “what we can do right now, in this moment.” Choosing the best action we can take now, rather than regret or criticism. That might be true wisdom.
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