Intellectual humility

The Greek philosopher Aristotle made important contributions to logic, ethical deliberation, criticism, rhetoric, physics, biology, and psychology.

Intellectual humility can be understood as "involving the owning of one’s cognitive limitations, a healthy recognition of one’s intellectual debts to others, and low concern for intellectual domination and certain kinds of social status. It is closely allied with traits such as open-mindedness, a sense of one’s fallibility, and being responsive to reasons."^[1] Intellectual humility also involves having a recognition that there are gaps in one’s knowledge and that some of one’s current beliefs might be incorrect.^[2]

• Intellectual humility is caused by contact with reality

Intellectual humility graphic.

Foxes are people who are generalists and hedge hogs are experts/specialists.^[3]

• Intellectual Humility, John Templeton Foundation

• What Does Intellectual Humility Look Like?, Greater Good Magazine

• What is Intectual Humility. Humility & Conviction in Public Life, University of Connecticut

• Could I be wrong? Exploring research on cognitive bias, curiosity, intellectual humility, and lifelong learning

• The curious joy of being wrong – intellectual humility means being open to new information, Kansas Reflector

• Intellectual humility: the importance of knowing you might be wrong

Videos on intellectual humility:

• Free online course on intellectual humility, Philosophy department at the University of Edinburgh

• Intellectual humility - video playlist, Video playlist

• The Hidden Power of Intellectual Humility, The Decision Lab website

• Five Reasons Why Intellectual Humility Is Good for You, Greater Good Magazine

• Three Reasons Why Intellectual Humility Is Good for You, California Association of School Business Officials

• The Power of Intellectual Humility by Eranda Jayawickreme Ph.D.

See also: Dunning-Kruger effect and Lifelong learning

• Embracing the Dunning-Kruger Effect: The Path to Humility and Continuous Learning

• Predictors and consequences of intellectual humility, Nature, June 2022
• Development and validation of a multi-dimensional measure of intellectual humility, PLus One, 2017; 12(8): e0182950. Published online 2017 Aug 16. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182950

• Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant. Penguin Books (December 26, 2023)
• Intellectual Humility: An Introduction to the Philosophy and Science by Dr. Ian Church and Peter L. Samuelson. Bloomsbury Academic (January 26, 2017)
• Clever Enough to be Stupid: A Need for Intellectual Humility by Jym Brown. Publisher: Jym Brown (October 17, 2021)

• Humility
• Intellectual curiosity
• Decision making
• Evidence-based thinking
• Falsifiable
• Doubt
• Cognitive bias
• Confirmation bias
• Dunning-Kruger effect
• Logical fallacies

Opposites:

• Egocentric thinking
• Lake Wobegon effect
• Wishful thinking
• Hubris
• Pride