Ways to Develop Intellectual Integrity & Why Critical Thinking Requires It

In this clip from episode 23 of the "Critical Thinking: Going Deeper" podcast, Dr. Linda Elder provides some strategies for developing intellectual integrity. Dr. Gerald Nosich discusses why this is a necessary intellectual trait for critical thinking, and he later gives an example of an area in his life where he hopes to develop more intellectual integrity.

On certain key terms from this video:

Intellectual integrity is one of the intellectual virtues. It entails recognizing the need to be true to one’s own most disciplined, rational thinking; to be consistent in the intellectual standards one applies; to hold one’s self to the same rigorous standards of evidence and proof to which one holds one’s antagonists; to practice what one advocates for others; and to honestly admit discrepancies and inconsistencies in one’s own thoughts and action.

Intellectual empathy is one of the intellectual virtues. It entails consciousness of the need to imaginatively put oneself in the place of others in order to genuinely understand them. This trait correlates with the ability to accurately reconstruct the viewpoints and reasoning of others (in good faith) and to reason from premises, assumptions, and ideas other than our own.

Intellectual virtues (AKA valuable intellectual traits or dispositions) are the interdependent traits of mind and character necessary for frequently and systematically engaging in reasonable, ethical thinking and action. These virtues are developed over time through routine, high-quality analysis and evaluation of thought - e.g., by consistently applying rational intellectual standards to the elements of reasoning over time, while also identifying and intervening in the many manifestations of egocentric and sociocentric thinking that are natural to all humans. Intellectual virtues include, but are not limited to, intellectual sense of justice, intellectual perseverance, intellectual integrity, intellectual empathy, fairmindedness, and intellectual discipline.

This video touches briefly on one or a few aspect(s) of an overarching body of theory known as the Paul-Elder Framework for Critical Thinking, and its content must be understood in the broader context of this framework. You can become more familiar with our approach to critical thinking through other videos on this channel, and through our websites (see below).

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