Tags :Epistemic humility

不患人之不己知，患不知人也。——孔子(bú huàn rén zhī bù jǐ zhī, huàn bù zhī rén yě — Kǒngzǐ) Translation: “Fear not others not knowing you—fear you not knowing others.” Explanation: Confucius’ axiom “不患人之不己知(bú huàn rén zhī bù jǐ zhī), 患不知人也(huàn bù zhī rén yě)” (Fear not others not knowing you—fear you not knowing others) establishes epistemic humility as the cornerstone of social cognition. The character 患(huàn)—combining 心(xīn, heart) and 串(chuàn, string)—visually represents a heart suspended in proactive concern, urging continuous effort to understand others rather than seeking validation. This principle shaped the 察举制(chá jǔ zhì) (Han Dynasty talent selection system), where officials were evaluated on their ability to discern others’ true capabilities, not self-promotion. Historical applications transformed governance. Ming Dynasty envoys underwent 知人训练(zhī rén...

Like(0)admin2025-02-26Chinese Quotes Views(42)Comment

知之为知之，不知为不知，是知也。——孔子(zhī zhī wéi zhī zhī, bù zhī wéi bù zhī, shì zhī yě — Kǒngzǐ) Translation: “To know you know, and know you don’t know—that is true knowing.” Explanation: Confucius’ dictum “To know you know, and know you don’t know—that is true knowing” crystallizes an epistemology of radical intellectual humility. Far from advocating ignorance, this paradox reframes knowledge as a dynamic process of self-awareness. By distinguishing between verified understanding and acknowledged uncertainty, it establishes a mental framework for resisting cognitive arrogance—a concept that would later underpin the scientific method’s emphasis on falsifiability. This “negative capability” philosophy predates Socrates’ famous “I know that I know nothing” by decades, yet diverges in cultural impact. While Socratic questioning sought external truths through dialogue,...

Like(0)admin2025-02-24Chinese Quotes Views(45)Comment