The virtue is less explored but exceptionally valuable. The more we practice it, the more it expands.
When I decided to write an elaborative article on intellectual humility, I did not know what a fascinating virtue it is and could be. The more I dive deeper, the more it pulls me. When I initiated to bring it into practice, I started to transform inside out. My functioning shifted while my peers noticed that change in me.
Is intellectual humility different from being humble in routine life?
Let’s explore.
The virtue of being humble is called humility. So having said that, humility comes out and about in different flavours. In the religious context, humility could be the submissiveness of oneself to a deity or God. In philosophical spheres, humility is regarded as selflessness, or that one is practising not allowing arrogance to function once knowledge or expertise is attained.
Humility helps advocate personal growth and unlocks personal authenticity and human development.
Why does it become hard to see our ignorance?
What we decide not to see and think, can be a mistake for a lifetime.
According to Mark Leary, a social and personality psychologist at Duke University, “Intellectual humility is the recognition that the things you believe in might in fact be wrong.” Leary shares that to acquire the virtue of intellectual humility, no skill set or a high IQ is needed. It is all about monitoring your confidence.
Julia Rohrer, a personality psychologist at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, quotes, “Not knowing the scope of your ignorance is a part of the human condition. It is more of a cultural issue that people are unwilling to admit their mistakes.”
The characteristic that allows the admission of wrongness is quite a challenge to achieve in a closely and complicatedly connected world. Spreading of false information is extremely easy and so is to follow it. In such scenarios, fostering high-virtue learning tools like intellectual humility becomes more challenging. But even before we acquire one, we need to get to the root of it.
Intellectual Humility is a method of thinking of the human brain. We entertain the possibility of being wrong or accepting that what we have been following could be misleading which is passing down to generations. Intellectual Humility makes you both aware and curious about your blind spots. It requires meticulous practice to monitor one’s limits which could be painstaking.
Michel de Montaigne, the 16th-century French philosopher who invented essay writing, quoted “The plague of man is boasting of his knowledge.” The quote is a contrast to intellectual humility.
Those who practice intellectual humility are quite open and easy to facing opposing views. They do rest with strong self- awareness even if they are wrongly answering to someone.
Studies have found that cognitive reflection — i.e., analytic thinking — is correlated with being better able to discern fake news stories from real ones. These studies haven’t looked at intellectual humility per se, but it’s plausible there’s an overlap.
Most important of all, the intellectually humble are more likely to admit it when they are wrong. When we admit we’re wrong, we can grow closer to the truth.
KNOW YOUR AUTHOR
Born and raised in Kuwait, she was brought up with warm and strict values by her parents. Her educational journey includes a Master’s Degree in English Literature, and she is now pursuing her passion for Global Literature with a PhD.
Attending school in Kuwait allowed her to grow up alongside children and families from diverse backgrounds, shaping her strong, magnetic personality. She excels in social and community engagements, reflecting her deep commitment to exploring and studying various subjects.
With over 14 years of experience in the global market, she has designed content strategies for both B2B and B2C brands. Currently, she serves as the Head of Content Development and also functions as a Floor In-charge within her organization. Her role involves leading a talented team of writers and proofreaders, who are the cornerstone of her department’s success. She joined Medium recently and enjoys being part of its vibrant community.
As a 44-year-old single parent, she approaches life with resilience and enthusiasm. Her teenage son continually surprises her with his remarkable personality and evolving mindset, offering valuable lessons and inspiration.
She firmly believes that “Challenges are full of life” rather than “Life is full of challenges,” a perspective that guides both her personal and professional life.
