Sometimes it helps to remember that a lot of people are actually hopelessly stupid. And this isn't like some elitist ivory tower commentary - there is a good percentage of the population which struggles with basic problem solving, knowledge synthesis, critical thought, etc.

"Advanced capitalism" is sometimes literally called a "knowledge economy" and this has really properly fucked people who could have previously earned a fine living doing mindless physical work. And again, this isn't like some normative statement - for most of human history this equation has been inverted, and intellectual opportunities were scarce. Honestly, part of the problem is probably very specifically that we have hit that inflection point, which is cultivating a new form of alienation for those who are on that lower cognitive tail, who both lack opportunities and are also made to feel inferior for it.