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Intellectual humility is the recognition of the limits of one’s knowledge and an openness to new ideas, which fosters better decision-making and social interactions.

Intellectual humility is defined as a metacognitive process that involves recognizing one’s cognitive limitations and acknowledging the fallibility of one’s beliefs and opinions. It encompasses several key components, including:

Awareness of Fallibility: Understanding that one’s knowledge may be incomplete or flawed.

Openness to New Ideas: Being receptive to different perspectives and willing to revise one’s beliefs in light of new evidence.

Lack of Intellectual Vanity: Not considering one’s views as superior to others’ and being willing to admit mistakes

The concept of intellectual humility has been discussed by philosophers for centuries, with Socrates often cited as an early proponent. He famously stated that true wisdom comes from recognizing one’s ignorance. This philosophical foundation has been built upon by modern psychologists and researchers who study its implications in various contexts.

The context I want to use for this article is suggested by my niece Nyna V, who loves to knit and I think it was a brilliant suggestion from Nyna, as the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I had this notion of intellectual humility on my list of future articles for about 2 years now and haven’t found examples or motivation to write about it. Now I have examples and motivation, a thinly veiled threat worded as “or else” from Nyna, albeit in an endearing way, is a motivation in itself. If you know Nyna, you will see what I mean. :-). All kidding aside, she sent me a link about a SciShow episode by Hank Green. I never heard of this gentleman before my niece mentioned and from what I gather, he is as normal as anyone else ( Hank Green – Wikipedia ). Mr. Green is very intelligent, enterprising, entertaining, and scientific minded individual according to the Wikipedia and unfortunately, is also suffering from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. For all practical purposes, a well-grounded gentleman.

Background: Mr. Green runs a show called SciShow and in that show he made a rather cavalier statement about knitting. According to this website ( Why Do Knitters Have Beef with Hank Green? – Knitting ), ” He also calls it simple to knit a sock, which, whether its nalbindning ( Nålebinding – Wikipedia ) or not, isn’t actually simple, as anyone who has ever read the instructions for turning a heel will tell you. And the sample they were talking about is worked in two colors with two different stitch patterns, so it’s not like that’s a beginner project even without also turning a heel.” I did not know what is a “turning a heel” and how it is difficult to knit till my wife Jaya explained it to me.

The conversations with Nyna V and my wife Jaya led me to ponder on why intelligent people with seemingly lack of hubris would have a moment or moments in life lack the intellectual humility. Is it a lapse of judgement or a momentary feeling of smugness or a subconscious arrogance rearing its ugly head or do we all suffer from covert Dunning Kruger effect?

Is the lack of intellectual humility far more prevalent? I tend to dismiss quite a few things as no big deal. Is it because I lack interest and therefore, I dismiss them or is it because I subconsciously, or otherwise, feel it is not a big deal to accomplish?

Let me show you an example, albeit you may think it is either trivial or contrived or both. This was recently taken in Vietnam (Mong Ngua rice fields in Mu Cang Chai). It is a very popular resort and is famous for its horseshoe bend rice fields.

Here is an image that I may look at and may have a reaction from “it is good” to “meh” and move on.

Granted that the above-described reactions are very subjective and personal. No matter what my reaction is, never ever have I paused and wondered what it took to make that happen.

I was part of a photography tour and the tour organizer arranged for a photo session in a hut on the side of the main path. The access to the hut was behind the restaurant/store and one has to walk through their kitchen and ill-maintained path (below to the viewer’s right) into the field to a hut.

There are a few more logistics involved in the setting up the staging area, have models and prop ready along with our own models bringing their own ethnic costumes for the session.

The image below captures preparing for the image you have seen earlier. This is perhaps another “turning the heel” moment of knitting a sock.

The controversy generated by Mr. Green by a comment, that the knitters perceived as flippant at the least, and demeaning at the worst, has made me go through an introspection and change my perspective. Next time, I dismiss something in rather a cavalier fashion, I will check myself with “turning the heel”.

Long time ago, I read somewhere that the difference between tolerance and acceptance is that tolerance is a polite form of bigotry. I wonder if the intellectual humility is a polite form of Dunning Kruger effect. This is a different song I am singing (and known for my tone deafness – ask my friends) compared to what I wrote in my article #64 published in August 2025.

Epilog: This article starts my sixth year of this blog. Something that I started on a whim, five years later is still going (strong). I am humbled by your patronage, support and feedback. Wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2026.