I know l am wrong all of the time. l know this because my ex pointed this out to me, all of the time.

Those who are never wrong are -in my opinion- people engulfed by low self-esteem and, usually, the product of parents who never corrected them.

Is narcissism a learned behavior or a genetic condition? I ask because I once knew three brothers who went through two divorces,,. each...but couldn't understand why their wives left them...since they were so great and perfect and knowledgeable and nice.....

I agree absolutely and it even applies to us non-scientists. Unfortunately, when scientists are either proven wrong or admit their mistakes the general public lose confidence in them. It hurts the whole industry but is part of the game. An item appeared in the Atlantic Monthly [theatlantic.com] in which a scientist was proposing another reason the dinosaurs died out. This called into question the asteroid hypothesis. Whereas the hypothesis was not being called wrong it was being said it was just on of several scenarios. New information comes to light all the time which calls into account established theory. The scientists are often not wrong but just don't have all the facts.

To me, this concept of intellectual humility makes a huge amount of good sense. And I know I've been wrong so often, about so many things, that I can hardly help but be mindful of that fact much of the time.

I suppose it's just natural for all of us to feel overconfident in our conclusions or beliefs. Education can help a person develop a questioning attitude and a flexible mind.

Life is a learning process and part of the process involves making mistakes. Apparently, that is how we learn. There is nothing wrong with making a mistake providing you do not make a mistake that has irreversible and dire consequences. Those who are afraid or are unwilling to make mistakes stunt their growth.

I feel arrogance and the fear of ridicule have a lot to do with those who refuse to recognize their mistakes. I could add a not so small dosage of narcissism to the mix.

In all my years, and all my education.
The most important thing I have learned is, the more I learn, the more I realize just how much I don't know.

I vaguely remember a quote...something to the effect that "A wise person welcomes being corrected; a fool is insulted."

My thoughts are never written in stone.

I have no trouble being wrong...I just want the right answers...facts...people who have to be right no matter what are stubborn and closed-minded...they worry more about the appearance of being "right" than the actual facts or truth...sound familiar?