Read the Associate Editor’s Notebook on Intellectual Humility
Write to François Cardinal
Daily practice
I practice intellectual humility every day by reading The Press. Whether it is Patrick Lagacé or Francis Vailles, to name just these two, they come to confront me in my ideas and opinions. As I often say to myself: I love to hate them and I hate to love them!
Pierre Coutu
Arguments and nuance
I have no intellectual humility, unfortunately. I can assure you that I am not looking for points of view different from my own, but if, by chance, I come across them, I will read or listen carefully. If I’m honest, it’s mainly to find new arguments to strengthen my thesis, but it happened that despite myself and without completely changing my point of view, I managed to qualify my position. There is probably hope for journalists…
Lorraine Lemay
These social ties that unite us
It’s true that we think about our political positions in an identity-based way. We follow our gang!
I would like to add that, in this context, it is all the more difficult to assume one’s own position, because it can lead to rejection from one’s group. Humans, as social creatures, perhaps prefer not to jeopardize social bonds that are dear to them…
On the idea of exposing oneself to the plurality of opinions, I will allow myself a little personal sharing. I am a young high school teacher. This means that during my years of study in Montreal, I was in a bubble that some would describe as “woke”. Especially since I frequented student associations a lot, where everyone’s positions are sometimes different of course, but generally quite left-wing.
At the start of my career, back in the region and exposed to the varied opinions of the teenagers in front of me, I experienced a clash of ideas! The family cultures of my students are rich and varied, but above all, they do not come from the same “university bubble” as me.
Debates settled for a long time for me began to resurface! Even more, the teacher’s posture forces us to listen to the other’s speech (for which we are responsible) and to establish dialogue.
I am therefore able to see 1) that this dialogue is not always comfortable and I understand those who prefer to avoid it, but 2) that we rarely regret having done it. We sometimes manage to convince someone of the merits of our position, we manage to qualify ours and, above all, we manage to forge the bond of trust that unites us, despite our differences.
I therefore wish us collectively to succeed in doing this among fellow citizens!
Antoine Cote
A question to ask yourself
During my long career as a manager, I have had my share of discussions about polarizing topics with colleagues, where emotions could run high.
But fortunately I discovered early on that by asking myself a question, I often managed to become a productive interlocutor.
That question is: “How is this person right?” » I had to find a credible answer for myself and to validate with my interlocutor the veracity of this answer.
I immediately saw two positive effects: this exercise calmed me (as did my interlocutor often) and gave me a positive point of support in the discussion.
Daniel Toutant
I have everything to learn
Montaigne is my idol (with a touch of exaggeration) and I practice his teaching:
“I advance towards him who contradicts me, who instructs me. » This, it seems to me, has been since my early youth, because I have always considered that I have everything to learn since I have not seen everything, read everything…
Eve-Line Pipon
Listen, hear, understand
Listening is difficult in a fast-paced world. I do a little mediation. Misunderstandings, interpretations, assumptions do a lot of damage in relationships. Dialogue requires taking the time to hear the other point of view. To ensure that I have heard correctly, the strategy is to rephrase, to say what I understood from the other person’s words. It slows down and soothes.
For my part, I am curious about other points of view and I do not like to be stubborn, especially when I perceive strong convictions in others. I don’t like convincing. I prefer to understand what motivates others to think the way they think. I am often surprised by opinions based on fluff, on ignorance. Before speaking out, it is wise to know what we are talking about and also to recognize our own ignorance.
France Laurendeau
The importance of arguments that hold water
To answer your question, yes, I regularly force myself to research subjects that a priori put me off or that simply indifferent to me. To do this, I read articles contrary to my opinions, I listen to podcasts, I attend niche plays, I listen to Belles Heures conferences, etc. All this, to understand, educate myself, educate myself and validate my opinions. At the end of all that, I believe that it is legitimate to express opinions that I make sure to base on arguments that hold water. Several of your journalists are sensitive to it, but others show a sterile Teflon side in a context of dialogue I would say.
In my opinion, the historic mistake we made collectively was to tacitly agree that all ideas are equal in a very fashionable concern for equality. Thus, any person who puts forward an idea without having based it on arguments that he can clearly state, thinks he has the right to fuel a debate. Having an opinion requires intellectual work and you don’t need a doctorate to do it. Being valiant and having intellectual humility as you say is enough to enhance one’s thinking.
Lorraine Gauthier
Without fear
One of my favorite proverbs is: I only know the extent of my ignorance.
Above all, I practice my humility by observing those I understand the least, who have an idea contrary to mine.
Passionate about science, religion and history books, I am not afraid to read outside of these subjects or to look at what could be contrary (myths, conspiracies).
In fact, the acquisition of knowledge is what attracts me the most, I am not afraid of encountering facts and speeches that are shocking or contrary to my ideas. If many could act this way…
Frédéric Longpré
Devil’s Advocate
Registered in a philosophical discussion forum offered to people of my age (the “old people”), I humbly tell you that philosophy allows a perspective that is easier to have than that of discussing current affairs. Since my early adolescence, I have always enjoyed playing “devil’s advocate” in order to spark debate. Today, I humbly admit, I continue to do so, but with white gloves because the debate quickly crystallizes. I sometimes even prefer to remain silent even though it is not in my nature. So I completely agree with you, it is important to bring back the joy of debating in all humility!
Michèle Hudon
Need practice
Yes, I like reading books that offer me new ideas and different points of view. On the other hand, the quality of my listening is often so-so.
I like to discuss and I sometimes have difficulty accepting being contradicted. Humility, yes. Easier said than done…I’ll practice.
Denyse Roy Larouche
There is a limit
I am willing to practice intellectual humility except in the case of Trump. It’s beyond my strength! I am convinced and always will be that he is a totally egocentric deceitful individual who has no place in politics.
Lucie Boileau