Intellectual perseverance is one of the best steps to develop intellectual Perseverance as an Intellectual Virtue.

Are you trying to learn something new but it is hard and you are tempted to give up?Sometimes you feel stuck and confused because you are trying to understand philosophy or level up your thinking.This post is designed for philosophers.The best way to succeed intellectually is to develop intellectual perseverance.

Intellectual perseverance comes from a love of learning.When learning gets difficult, the tendency is to not give up.You embrace intellectual struggle.You don't give up on greater understanding.

Intellectual perseverance is a virtue.Why is perseverance one of the intellectual virtues?

A virtue is a halfway point between two extremes.The tendency to act rashly is a virtue that lies in-between moral courage and cowardice.The right amount of risk is taken by a person with the moral virtue of courage.They do not rush into a battle when they are outmatched.They don't take risks or act rashly.They don't retreat from battle out of fear.They don't act timidly.What is the difference between an intellectual virtue and a moral one?

There is a desire to gain knowledge that leads to an intellectual virtue.It involves looking for the truth about what you are learning.It is not an all-out desire for truth.A Few Good Men quotes, "You can't handle the truth!"It is a halfway point.Between what?

Intellectual perseverance is between the tendency to give up on learning too easily and the inclination to keep banging your head against a problem when no reasonable progress is in sight.We tend to give up quickly.It is usually better to keep going.

You can keep learning when you see your subject in 3-D.It is boring to look at a flat subject.You move onto something else when you get bored.You can bring your subject to life by connecting it to the real world.How?

For instance, take ethics.It can be boring to read about Jeremy Bentham.The text is not new.

It is possible to connect your learning to the real world through reading.Effective Altruism is a movement.Utilitarianism is in action.It is possible to keep learning about the movement by reading about it.It will keep you going even when you don't like it.

Learning is rewarding for curious people.They don't just learn to get rewarded.They learn for the sake of learning.You keep focused on this pursuit because of curiosity.

Adhereping to the example of learning.If you find it hard to read John Stuart Mill on Utilitarianism, you can look at a general article on utilitarianism such as this one.

If learning about the history of ideas doesn't spark your curiosity, watch a fun video on your subject.You could watch a video on the subject.It helps you think about interesting scenarios, such as whether it's permissible to kill one person to save five people.

There are things that are preventing you from thinking.These are obstacles to recognize.Don't let them stop you from learning.

Intellectually lazy people prevent learning.Mental effort is required for learning.Intellectual laziness is caused if you find yourself unwilling to exert yourself mentally.The habit of intellectual laziness makes you lose your mind.It makes your intellectual skills dull.

Procrastination is a big roadblock.It involves putting off what is hard so that you can focus on moving your learning forward.You don't have to do what's hard because you occupy yourself with busy work.

There is another P-word that is a roadblock.I struggle with this one the most.I like to fuss over details.I tend to change things a lot.I think it's better to take small steps over time than to try and take huge leaps of improvement in one fell swoop.If you are like me, you may be waiting for the perfect moment to learn, the right school, or the correct method.Stay and learn.Even if it is messy.Even if it isn't perfect.It is better to get it done.

Closed-mindedness is the last roadblock to intellectual perseverance.You are unwilling to think outside the box when you are closed minded.It takes going out on a limb to learn something new.It requires new thinking.This will make you give up when you encounter something that challenges your beliefs if you are unwilling to entertain new ideas and perspectives.Become open-minded to overcome this roadblock.

I made a video to show you how to be open minded.It has tips to boost your open-mindedness so you can learn and think critically.You can watch the video here.

It is helpful to remember your past successes when you are tempted to give up on learning.Did you learn a new skill at work?Did you learn a new language?Did you learn anything new?Did you get a degree?Did you take a training course?

Write down your intellectual successes on a piece of paper.Remember the successes.They can give you strength because you have done it before.

Frederick Douglass was an adviser to the President.He escaped slavery and became an activist for the abolition of slavery.He was able to read and write.It wasn't easy.

Frederick was a young boy when he learned the alphabet.He was taught the ABC's by the wife of his slave owner.The slave owner forbid his wife from continuing to teach Frederick to read.Frederick continued to become literate despite this.He didn't give up.

He was able to achieve literacy.Frederick would bring bread with him when he ran household chores.Poor white boys would be given words to spell out.He would give them bread in exchange for a spelling lesson.

Frederick was able to write in a way that was ingenuous.He noticed that the wood used to build the ships had letters on it.The wood was to be placed on the ship.Frederick traced the letters he found on the wood with discarded chalk.He took a long time to learn.His persistence paid off.He was able to read and write.

Think about Frederick Douglass if you want to give up on an intellectual project.In learning to read and write, he displayed ingenuity and perseverance.You can find new ways to overcome your learning difficulties.

The 5 steps for intellectual perseverance will help you succeed.You will persist through the tough learning.

It is worth it in the end.Intellectual projects are satisfying and rewarding.It makes you feel good.It makes your mind sharper.

I am Dr. Cloos.Real philosophy for real life is what The Philosophical Life is about.Thephilosophicallife.com is where you can learn more.