In his September 3, 2020, 3-2-1- Thursday post James Clear shared the following passage from the book The Web of Belief by Willard Van Orman Quine and J.S. Ullian. I had to read through it a few times to let myself digest the distinction between the desire to be right and the desire to have been right. 

"The desire to be right and the desire to have been right are two desires, and the sooner we separate them the better off we are. The desire to be right is the thirst for truth. On all counts, both practical and theoretical, there is nothing but good to be said for it. The desire to have been right, on the other hand, is the pride that goeth before a fall. It stands in the way of our seeing we were wrong, and thus blocks the progress of our knowledge."

Upon reflection it struck me that the desire to “be right” involves the curiosity to continually be reading, listening, questioning, reflecting and learning to discover the truth based on the research and the evidence, not based on what you want it to be. It also requires the humility to raise your hand and say, “I don’t know.” Or “I don’t understand.” Speaker, leader, entrepreneur and former Navy Seal Clint Bruce refers to this as “Intellectual Courage”. He distinguishes Intellectual Courage from Physical Courage. He says there is an element of necessity to physical courage where Intellectual Courage is escapable. All you have to do is not raise your hand and no one will know that you didn’t know. 

We have all likely fallen prey to the desire to “have been right”. I know I have. The danger as pointed out by Willard Van Orman Quine and J.S. Ullian in that it “blocks the progress of our knowledge”. It stands in the way of us actively seeking the truth and shifts us to a defensive posture or a posture where we are trying to attack others beliefs to prove they are wrong. Not only will this block the progress of our knowledge it will block all positive progress, change and growth and mire us in conflict. 

What’s Important Now? Embrace curiosity and demonstrate intellectual courage by embracing the desire to be right. 

Take care.

Brian Willis

www.lifesmostpowerfulquestion.com

www.daretobegreatleadership.com

www.winningmindtraining.com

Maximizing human potential through Life's Most Powerful Question - What's Important Now?

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