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The Importance of Humility
We all have the conceit of our opinions. We have a tendency to think that our opinions are right, and that other's are wrong. That's not always the case of course, in most instances I recognize my ignorance. But in others, I feel I have studied or clarified an issue well enough to be fairly sure of being correct over another. I feel this is only natural, it doesn't make sense to believe in something and simultaneously believe that we are wrong.
However, it is important to entertain the possibility that we are wrong. We ought to have a little humility about ourselves and our views. No matter how much we know, no matter how smart we think we are, there is always the possibility of being wrong. No individual can claim a monopoly on truth and knowledge, not even in any particular subject. Acknowledging this fact is critically important, because it is after all the primary justification for a free society.
The justification for free speech is that no individual can be sure enough of their own opinions to be justified in stifling the opinions of others. Repression requires a degree of certainty that we have no right to claim. We might be absolutely sure that the KKK is wrong, but we grant them the right to express their views because we would also like to enjoy the freedom of expression when other's are sure that our views are absolutely wrong as well. It takes a real conceit, a real arrogance, to think so highly of our own opinions and philosophy that we feel justified in stifling any opposing views.
This applies to more than just speech. If you have the arrogance to claim you know precisely how an economy should be run in every facet then you may claim the arrogance of forcing that type of economy on others. If you have the arrogance to claim with certainty the guilt of a person, then you can claim the arrogance to forego a trial. The list goes on and on. A free society is predicated on humility, particularly humility regarding the limits of human knowledge, and so we have to disdain this degree of conceit in individuals. Unfortunately, it appears to me that this level of conceit is growing among people, perhaps due to the cultural trends of egotism, or some sort of generational immaturity.
This type of immaturity and lack of humility is particularly dangerous in those who have achieved some position of power. We ought to ensure that the people we promote to positions of power over others are the types of people who have a strong regard for the right of others to be wrong. Yes, people have the right to be wrong, and you have the right to persuade them to your point of view. But once you seek to use force to push your views on others, you have stepped beyond your rights.
Thanks for reading!
 
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Implying that discrimination is a product of nothing but personal pride and immaturity ... hate to break it to you but those in power aren't being dicks because they're immature, they do it for personal gain, and the various forms of official corruption are not so easily remedied by "growing up."
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I have to disagree with portions of this. There are opinions that are wrong. If you think that gravity is not real, yeah it's fantastic that you can have that opinion, but you are wrong, plain and simple. Now, it's fine if you hold that to yourself, but if you not only have a bullshit opinion, and then not only hold back other people because of it (let's say because you don't believe in gravity, you say that jumping isn't allowed), then that's not okay.
The KKK is an exact example I would use. They can have all the opinions they want, bullshit as they are, but if they were to suggest and attempt to enforce, "Oh it's not okay for [everyone but KKK criteria] to get the same education, the same positions of power, etc" then it becomes more than just an opinion that I should respect. It becomes vile and malicious and something I should regard with disdain. That is when something should be stifled, and with perfectly good reason.
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I've also thought quite a bit about this--the degree of arrogance and lack of thought about others is quite surprising. Sometimes we just need to have a little humility and think about what the other person is saying. Too often do we write off others' opinions as ludicrous or ridiculous when perhaps they have their own reasons for thinking our position is equally silly. The fact that somebody earnestly believes something should, I think, encourage you to consider the other person's viewpoint.
There is, of course, a massive multitude of exceptions, but truly being able to consider and acknowledge somebody's viewpoint is very valuable to us as people and to the relationships we form. The fact that there are many extreme and despicable perspectives doesn't mean we shouldn't start by evaluating one another's viewpoints and making an honest effort to understand others to begin with.
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First of all, believing that the world is the way it is because of selfish elites and everything would be awesome if we just gave the power to The People is a pipedream. The elites are a reflection of the masses. You get the government you demand, essentially.
Believing that everyone who disagrees with you is stupid/evil is the mark of a mediocre mind. But that's the legacy of the Enlightenment for you.
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Agree with the principle but it feels like you're using it to defend your own positions rather than to look at opposing viewpoints from a more favourable angle.
It seems unfair to give away wisdom so freely while withholding it from yourself.
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This applies to more than just speech. If you have the arrogance to claim you know precisely how an economy should be run in every facet then you may claim the arrogance of forcing that type of economy on others.
Sort of confused about this. Certainly an individual can't just have their own economy, the economy has to include a group of others, be it a community, region, or nation. I don't see how you can force an economy upon someone and see it as bad; if it was taboo, we'd have all sorts of mini-states around based on every different economic idea. That wouldn't be that great for anybody.
That being said, I agree with the sentiment that people should entertain the possibility that they are wrong more. Most people will say that they do (unless they're part of a religion where little faith/questioning=bad), but argue with someone with an unorthodox or uneducated opinion (in your mind) and you will quickly see that any amount of evidence will do little. This is why I think "debates" are pointless. It's not like one candidate is going to say, "You're right, I was wrong." after "losing" an argument. People don't do that. They cling onto their beliefs and it takes time for them to change.
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The most dangerous forms of arrogance are those which you are not even aware of, and which other people take advantage of.
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Not a bad topic. I was going to write something myself about youth and the lack of humility these days.
I think one of the problems is that people nowadays tend to value "freedom of speech" more as an entitlement to spew whatever useless crap they want rather than as an opportunity to listen to the diverse opinions of the more learned.
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EPT
