The world has many “educated” and “knowledgeable” people today. However, we do not find too many who are humble. We have too many people who are too sure of things. Switch on a television set to watch news debates in the Indian Channels and you find galore of these individuals there. There is a popular saying that attributes ‘humility’ as the mother of all virtues. But many do not seem to be aware or convinced of this fact of life. Humility is also often the consequence/fruit of the acquisition of true knowledge. Observe the greatest of intellectuals/Philosophers/Scientists etc., one would be surprised to find them more humble than most common people. The humility of these great men does not spring from ignorance, timidity or lack of knowledge but from the abundance of knowledge. It is said, ‘The more you know, the more you realise that there is to know.’ It’s possible that the humility of these great men spring from the awareness of this Truth. Charles Darwin observed in ‘The Descent of Man,’ “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.” In fact, the most ‘ignorant’ pretends to be most sure of things. Of course, I do not intend to propagate scepticism here. But apparently the humility of greatest of intellectuals arise from the realization of one’s own “ignorance” leading to expression of opinions and ideas bordering on ‘Scepticism.’ It wouldn’t be correct to equate this state of apparent “Unsurity” of things to ‘scepticism’ but rather to ‘Intellectual humility’ arising from the foretaste of wisdom.
The arrogance of the ignorant and the unwise arise from their own ignorance. Most of them are unaware even of the fact that they are ignorant. This is how ignorance begets confidence. On the other hand, as elaborated above, true knowledge/wisdom appears to portray exactly the opposite dynamism.
The success of a genuine intellectual pursuit often lies in the attitude of humility with which one approaches wisdom and true understanding. It’s not enough to acquire information; what is even more important is the acquisition of wisdom. If one has mere information or knowledge one tends to be arrogant and proud. However, knowledge and information when coupled with wisdom gives rise to a TRUE INTELLECTUAL.
The hallmark of a ‘True Intellectual’ lies in the attitude of openness, ability to listen patiently even to wrong opinions, the childlike quest for more wisdom and above all humility. Strive to be a true Intellectual! Nobin Narzary
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