Intellectual Humility: Science (Coursera)

It’s clear that the world needs more intellectual humility. But how do we develop this virtue? And why do so many people still end up so arrogant? Do our own biases hold us back from becoming as intellectually humble as we could be—and are there some biases that actually make us more likely to be humble? Which cognitive dispositions and personality traits give people an edge at being more intellectually humble – and are they stable from birth, learned habits, or something in between? And what can contemporary research on the emotions tell us about encouraging intellectual humility in ourselves and others?

Experts in psychology, philosophy and education are conducting exciting new research on these questions, and the results have important, real-world applications. Faced with difficult questions people often tend to dismiss and marginalize dissent. Political and moral disagreements can be incredibly polarizing, and sometimes even dangerous. And whether it’s Christian fundamentalism, Islamic extremism, or militant atheism, religious dialogue remains tinted by arrogance, dogma, and ignorance. The world needs more people who are sensitive to reasons both for and against their beliefs, and are willing to consider the possibility that their political, religious and moral beliefs might be mistaken. The world needs more intellectual humility.

In this course, we will examine the following major questions about the science of intellectual humility:

• How do we become intellectually humble?

• How can human cognition tell us about intellectual humility?

• How does arrogance develop, and how can we become more open-minded?

• How do emotions affect our ability to be intellectually humble?

All lectures are delivered by leading specialists, and the course is organised around a number of interesting readings and practical assignments which will help you address issues related to humility in your daily life.

This course can be taken as a part of a series which explores the theory, the science and the applied issues surrounding intellectual humility. In the previous course on the theory behind intellectual humility, we considered how to define intellectual humility, the nature of an intellectual virtue, and how we know who is intellectually humble. If you are interested, complete all three courses to gain a broader understanding of this fascinating topic. Look for:

• Intellectual Humility: Theory

• Intellectual Humility: Practice

Who is this class for: This class can be taken by anyone. The materials will be divided into three tiers, allowing you to choose how much you want to engage with the topic. At the Learn level, you will watch videos and complete quizzes. At the Engage level, you will be asked to do some background reading, answer reflective questions and participate in discussions. At the Go Further! level you will be invited to complete more creative tasks and presented with a range of further readings. You can choose how you want to engage with the course and each particular module, and can mix things to best suit your learning style.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Getting Started

Humility, exploration, and the psychology of child development

Dr Cristine Legare argues that humility is intimately connected to a state of openness to new ideas, and looks at how we can foster this in children. It turns out that what psychologists say makes kids better at exploring, explaining and being open, is not necessarily how they’re taught at school!

Graded: Module Quiz

Graded: Back to school

WEEK 2

What makes us arrogant? Biases, heuristics and cognitive psychology

Professor Frank Keil discusses a number of biases which we all have, and which can make us more arrogant and dogmatic by leading us to think that we know more than we actually do. Can you find examples of those biases in the news, and perhaps even in yourself?

Graded: Examples of biases

Graded: Module Quiz

WEEK 3

Dogmatism and open-mindedness in politics, religion, and life

Professor Victor Ottati (like Dr. Legare before) thinks that humility has a lot to do with being open to new ideas and to things we disagree with. He shows how our ability to be open-minded is related to our personal traits and to specific situations. How open-minded do you think you are about politics, religion, and any other ideas you disagree with?

Graded: Module Quiz

Graded: Open-mindedness in public discourse and life

WEEK 4

Humility, emotions and human relations: a view from social psychology

Professor Vasu Reddy suggests that in understanding humility, we should focus on emotions rather than on reason; on what humility feels like, not how we understand it. Humility, she says, is not a special, lofty virtue – it’s a commonplace, everyday thing, and it’s about being open to engagement with others. Could this help you bring more humility to your daily interactions?

Graded: Module Quiz

End of course assignments