“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.“
– Socrates
There are people who argue for the sake of arguing. They discuss things only so they could assert their “intelligence,” “knowledge,” “wisdom,” “superiority,” or whatever it is they want people to know about. Fighting and standing up for the truth is one thing, asserting your own opinion and disrespecting and insulting people in the process is another.
I consider myself to be a person of substance, willing to stand up for what is true, just, and fair. But I never argue for the sake of arguing. I join in discussions for the sake of letting people know what I know and what I think, but never to rub on other people’s faces that I am smarter, better, or more enlightened.
There are truths in this life, in this world that are non-debatable and non-changing. No matter how skewed our perception of it is, it does not and will not change.
Then, there are opinions, beliefs, things that differ from one person to another. Yes, there are false or, I dare say, false beliefs and wrong opinions. But how am I to say which is false and wrong when I am closed to the idea that mine might be the ones false or wrong?
Life, for me is an unending quest for the truth, a journey aimed at enriching one’s self with knowledge. If one, at a certain point in this journey, is content with what he knows and closes himself to other possibilities, argues for the sake of arguing rather than learning, then there is no point in living.
At this point, the arrogant fails to live. Arrogant people lack perspective. They believe so strongly in themselves that they fail to acknowledge one of the truths of life: no man is perfect. You may consider your self so enlightened, so knowledgeable, so above the rest. But no matter how hard you try, you can never claim to have the right belief or opinion. Simply because, there is no one right belief or opinion.
Men are limited beings with limited capacities, limited experiences. And no matter how hard one tries, one cannot claim to have to right or best perspective, view, belief, or opinion.
At best, we can try to examine ourselves, our perspectives, our views, beliefs, and opinions by opening ourselves up. We discuss things to learn, not just to assert ourselves. Closing one’s mind to things, stunts one’s growth.
Arrogance is not only annoying, it is self-destructive.
I can name a couple of bloggers who would benefit from reading this post. But chances are, most of them would probably not get it.
Good job.
Well said Ria, a passionate argument for the sake of ego, is an argument in which the proponent will never have my respect.
And even though, someone will eventually disagree with another regarding his assertions and perspective on issues, the fact that a person will go into a discussion because of his beliefs and his need to convey his true beliefs, that in itself will lay the foundation of a good debate and a good discussion, which inherently, on a personal opinion, will also lay the foundation for my respect for that individual.
Thus, for example, I have always had the deepest hatred for individuals such as Rush Limbaugh, who in their arrogance cannot see anything beyond their own point of view, and will engage in any commentary for the sake of furthering their own propaganda..
That’s arrogance, and my respect will never be for such individuals..
Nice post Ria.. it got me all riled up though..
@Pau – I think so too. Just wanted to write/blog what I’m thinking of just in case they suddenly have an epiphany or something.
Semi-blind item? Hehehe. Good points. One is entitled to his opinions and he is free to express them as long as the arguments are based on facts and not simply on who ‘claims’ to be smarter or not.
Very well put, Ria. Spoken like a true pragmatist.
Arguing is good, provided one sticks to the topic at hand and does not resort to arguments that degrade another person’s being. That is arrogance and being childish.
well well… this is our 3rd article in my philo subject.. so it seems i know a little about this things. hmm.. but i can’t explain what i wanted to say.. cause you know.. you’re my no. 1 critic when it comes to language and grammar so i better shut up cause “I know that I know nothing”. 😀 hahahaha
Arrogance is Ignorance. – From me
“Little knowledge is a Dangerous thing.” – Can’t remember
interesting perspective. food for thought that i’m going to take a mo’ to digest.
nice post.
pahabol.
“Behind every argument is Someone’s Ignorance” – Can’t remember 😀
Nice post Ria
I suggest you read that entire thread and tell me how I lambasted Blogie. It is soooo easy to grandstand, Ria. And I know, it’s soooo tempting to misrpresent someone like me. It’s tempting, but it’s also cheap. The spin on this article is no different from the other misrepresentation that I’m used to.
You definitely succeeded in grandstanding and oversimplifying the situation, Ria. Congratulations. I suggest you read that thread again and nuance your arguments better.
hmmm..
how do you solve grandstanding….
=p
wow.. another nosebleed post.
yeeshh, i agree with socrates. hahaha.. (naalala ko tuloy philosophy class kow). 🙂
making people equal would be pointless. we need the variety.
we need people to dig ditches just as much as we need people to come up with new medical breakthroughs.
intelligence is like strength. it can be used to help or to hurt. if you use your strength to BULLY people, that’s usually classified as WRONG. same deal if you use your intelligence to make someone else feel inferior.
Excellent post. 🙂
haha… this entry reminds me of some Indian IT people I met in one company…
they argue for the sake of arguing even if they breach the prescriptions of ethics… they just want to win and keep their face rather than concede and gain the truth…