As a lead in to my next book that will focus more on my personal philosophy and the tie in to philosophies that have been studied and dissected over time, I will begin to start adding hints and notes of what’s to come in future articles that live here on this blog.
One common error that sticks out in the field of philosophy, is the overestimation of viewpoints by those who express them. The search for true philosophical insight is frequently hampered by our innate propensity to exaggerate the importance of our personal opinions. The opportunity presented itself, through my observations, which refute this misconception to support a more complex view of the significance and bounds of our ideas.
As a rule, it is recognized that everyone has an inbuilt need to feel heard and validated. We want to voice our opinions because we think they are distinct and important additions to the debate as a whole. Although having confidence in oneself can be empowering, it also sets the stage for exaggerating one’s own opinions. Intellectual hubris is a trap we run when we get too attached to our own viewpoints.
Furthermore, it can be highlighted that this misconception results from a resistance to accepting ambiguity. We raise our opinions to unjustified heights in our pursuit of complete certainty and frequently rule out the possibility of prejudice or inaccuracy. We forget that the complexity of existence cannot be neatly contained inside a single opinion, and that human understanding is inherently restricted. Our ability to evolve is stifled by this intellectual rigidity, which also keeps us from having fruitful conversations with opposing viewpoints.
There is real peril of putting one’s own opinions ahead of logic supported by facts. Many people in this information-rich age hold fast to their beliefs despite conflicting evidence or professional agreement and the access to partial truths and data. This access and stubbornness, respectively, not only hinders the advancement of knowledge but also encourages the spread of lies and misleading information. More often than not, by happenstance, more than by design.
This error has ramifications that go beyond philosophy and affect society as a whole. When people are too attached to their beliefs, development is hard to achieve. People stop working together to solve problems collaboratively and instead focus on sticking to their positions rather than trying to find a middle ground. This error impedes our ability to handle important philosophical and cultural concerns by fostering division and disagreement.
Gradually I have leaned towards calls for a transformation in our approach to opinions. There is authenticity found in my advocacy for the cultivation of intellectual humility—an acknowledgment that our opinions are susceptible to error, revision, and growth. This entails recognizing the value of diverse perspectives and engaging in open-minded dialogue. Intellectual humility requires us to prioritize evidence and reason over personal convictions and to be willing to adjust our viewpoints when confronted with compelling evidence to the contrary.
A person should find pause to reconsider how we relate to our opinions. Though opinions are essential to our philosophical identity, the road to genuine philosophical insight can be impeded by overvaluing our own opinions. In order to refute this error, we must value evidence, intellectual humility, and candid discussion as vital components of improving our comprehension of reality. By doing this, we can better navigate the philosophical landscape and further our shared quest for deep understanding and true knowledge.