According
to Valuable Intellectual Virtues (1996) and Nosich (2012), intellectual perseverance
is defined as a willingness to overcome “difficulties, obstacles, and
frustrations” in an effort to “reach a reasonable conclusion”, while staying
true to “rational principles”, regardless of opposition presented, in order to
make sense of confusing, “unsettled questions” (p. 175). The Foundation for
Critical Thinking provides a list of traits, as does Nosich (2012), that allow
for improvement from all critical thinkers, both new and experienced (p. 175). Intellectual,
used as an adjective to describe the noun with which it has been partnered,
indicates a predisposition to learn, ponder, and wonder about humility,
courage, empathy, integrity, reason, fair-mindedness, and perseverance
(Valuable Intellectual Virtues, 1996). These traits, described as “part of a
person’s character” are many of the same qualities expected from and found in a
good leader (Nosich, 2012, p. 175).
Progressing
with leadership studies, so that a person eventually becomes a good leader, requires giving due consideration to being reflective, developing standards and
criteria that measure accuracy, recognizing real problems, asking questions,
and a willingness to pursue either more than one answer or keep asking
questions (Nosich, 2012, p. 1-7). Often times an intellectual may be viewed as
geeky or nerdy. I prefer terms such as thorough and curious. Likewise, those
who persevere may be thought of as tenacious or dogged. Relentless and
determined are the adjectives that offer guidance to me.
While growing up, many phrases provided a willingness to
pursue answers and keep asking questions. A gentle, “can’t never could do
anything except stick in the mud, and holler for help”, was uttered quite often
by my grandmother and father. It took me years to understand this; once understood,
it was repeated to my children. It helped me to understand that this particular
contraction could not be a part of my vocabulary if I hoped to be successful. Other
words of encouragement included, “press on regardless”. Sadly I cannot remember
who said this; but, those words added to the foundation of critical thinking
and intellectual perseverance that has served me for many years. For me,
intellectual perseverance is like the movie, The NeverEnding Story, except instead of being drawn into a fantasy
world, I am drawn into a wonderful world of knowledge that in a sense is, never
ending.
As with critical thinking, intellectual perseverance is
an evolutionary process. At first, it takes practice to develop a good temperament
in order to be receptive to views and facts that contradict long held beliefs;
however, with a willingness to commit, the process becomes easier overtime such
that both critical thinking and intellectual perseverance become second nature.
Similarly, becoming a good leader requires patience and dedication; and, with
time, each becomes a part of one’s character. All of the traits require action
from the person wishing to add intellectual perseverance and leader to their own list of
attributes. A person needs to be willing to “figure things out”, admit
shortcomings and mistakes, accept challenges, accept conflicting views, commit
to follow the same standards set for others, become immersed, and stay on the
road to knowledge, regardless of the time. For me, intellectual perseverance is
going above and beyond, for as long as it takes, in search of a final answer to
a well-deserved question, knowing the answer could either change or require
revision.
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