The balance of intelligence: Avoiding overestimation and underestimation
When it comes to intelligence, we often lean toward either overestimating or underestimating our cognitive abilities. Both tendencies can lead to challenges that hinder our decision-making and actions.
The danger of overestimating intelligence
Overestimating intelligence involves assuming we know things we don’t. This false confidence can lead to decisions that are not just unproductive but also potentially harmful. For instance, an expert in one field might assume expertise in another unrelated field, leading to poor decisions. A doctor not trained in surgery attempting a complex operation could face disastrous consequences.
Intelligence includes the humility to recognize what we don’t know and the maturity to acknowledge that knowledge in some areas may be inaccessible or requires specialized expertise. Failure to understand this can have severe outcomes.
The risk of underestimating intelligence
Underestimating intelligence involves assuming that just because we don’t know something, we cannot learn or act. This leads to inaction and missed opportunities. A doctor, for instance, might lack the expertise for a specific procedure but could still ensure the patient gets the right care by consulting a specialist. Intelligence involves not only knowing our limitations but also recognizing the potential to expand our knowledge and make informed decisions through consultation.
Finding balance
A key aspect of intelligence is the ability to differentiate between:
1. What we know.
2. What we don’t know but can learn.
3. What we don’t know and cannot know.
For example, Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita didn’t let his confusion paralyze him. Instead of assuming the answers were unknowable, he turned to Krishna for guidance. Similarly, we can rely on experts or sources of wisdom to navigate situations beyond our immediate understanding.
Summary:
- Overestimating intelligence leads to acting on presumed knowledge, which can result in unproductive or harmful outcomes.
- Underestimating intelligence causes paralysis when we fail to consider that knowledge can be acquired by consulting experts.
- Differentiating between what we know, what we can learn, and what we cannot know enables us to act more judiciously.
Think it over:
- Reflect on a time you assumed you knew something you didn’t, leading to trouble for yourself or others.
- Recall a situation where not knowing something caused inaction, and consider how consulting an expert could have helped.
- Identify areas where you frequently face indecision and determine who or what could serve as a reliable guide in those situations.
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02.07 Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.
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