How do you know if you suffer from intellectual pride?
Nov 30th, 2009 by ljkim
Imagine you’re talking to someone about something and he/she presents a contrary opinion that just doesn’t make any sense to you. It’s just obviously false. Totally wrong. Nothing more to say… What do you do? [a] politely tell the person “you’re wrong” [b] change the subject [c] make eye contact with someone else in the room and roll your eyes [d] ease the tension with a joke.
Okay it’s a trick question. Just feeling that what someone else says or thinks can be dismissed automatically means that you think you are in a position of superiority. You’re saying to others “your opinion isn’t even worth discussion” while at the same time appointing yourself an infallible judge (although an actual judge would hear both sides first)… So there you have it. That’s how you know if you’re suffering from intellectual pride…
Well what else *could* you do? If you are superior to this other person then it makes sense that you should dismiss their stupid ideas… But IF you’re a sinner saved by grace, prone to intellectual mistakes and personal bias, irrational beliefs and wants… THEN you can at least entertain the other point of view and dialogue. Talk back and forth and work toward mutual understanding… friendship… while treating one another as equals…
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