The Evolution of Virtue: From Internal Validation to External Pursuit in the Modern World

As we journey through the complexities of modern life, it’s impossible to ignore the tension between internal validation and external recognition. In the past, many sought purpose and virtue through their relationship with a higher power, community, or personal values. Today, however, we find ourselves increasingly absorbed by external validation—where social media, likes, and follower counts become the metrics by which we measure our worth. But what has happened to the virtues that once defined us beyond what others think of us?

In earlier times, a sense of virtue was often tethered to something greater than ourselves—whether through faith, morality, or connection with the natural world. These deeper forms of validation were tied to a person’s ability to self-reflect, act with integrity, and contribute meaningfully to society. But as the world became more interconnected, and digital platforms began to dominate our lives, we shifted from finding peace in our internal sense of self-worth to seeking approval from others.

In today’s society, the lines between personal identity and public persona have blurred. Virtue is no longer just about being a good person in the traditional sense—it has morphed into a commodity that can be measured in likes, comments, and shares. Our digital presence can easily overshadow our true selves, as we become more concerned with how we appear to others rather than cultivating a genuine sense of self. The result? A collective struggle with self-identity, where the drive for external validation often overshadows the pursuit of authenticity.

But is this the world we want to live in? A world where our worth is determined by how we look in a photo or how many followers we have on a platform? What would happen if we redefined virtue in the context of 2025? What if virtue was no longer about being praised by others but about finding peace and fulfillment from within?

As I reflect on this idea, I can’t help but think about the struggles our ancestors faced. For those living in earlier centuries, virtue was often a matter of survival, personal growth, and devotion to something greater than themselves. Today, the challenge has evolved into something different but equally profound: the battle between authentic self-worth and the overwhelming pressure of societal expectations.

The question I want to explore is: can we find a balance between these two forces? Can we preserve our internal sense of virtue and self-worth while navigating a world that increasingly values outward appearances and social validation? It’s a question that resonates deeply with me, and one I hope to explore further through my work.

If this idea speaks to you, I invite you to join me on this journey. Let’s redefine what it means to be virtuous in the modern world—because, in the end, true virtue lies not in how many people approve of us but in the way we stay true to ourselves, no matter what the world around us says.

Figure: A pencil eraser symbolizes how human endeavors build in the possibility of error and correction. In everyday life, the humble eraser serves as a reminder that mistakes are expected and fixable. Being wrong is often seen as something to avoid or be ashamed of, but many philosophers, psychologists, and historians argue that it can be a powerful engine of learning and progress. From science and philosophy to personal growth and social change, acknowledging our fallibility — and admitting our errors — has repeatedly proven to spur innovation, foster wisdom, and strengthen our communities. This report examines how being wrong in moral, intellectual, scientific, and everyday contexts can ultimately lead to positive change in the world, drawing on insights from philosophy (fallibilism, pragmatism), psychology (cognitive dissonance, growth mindset), and historical examples (scientific revolutions, social justice movements). We will also explore how the simple act of admitting one’s mistakes promotes learning, creativity, humility, and stronger relationships.

Philosophical Perspectives: Embracing Fallibility and Pragmatism

Fallibilism – the philosophical principle that all claims to knowledge could, in principle, be mistaken – lies at the heart of this positive view of error. Fallibilist thinkers like Charles Sanders Peirce and Karl Popper maintain that recognizing our own fallibility is essential to making intellectual progress. As one scholar explains, “Fallibilism is the idea that we can never be 100% certain that we are right, and must therefore always be open to the possibility that we are wrong.”Rather than a pessimistic stance, this apparent weakness is actually a strength, “for admitting one’s mistakes is the first step to learning from them, and overcoming them, in science and society.”  In other words, if we accept that any belief might be wrong, we remain curious and vigilant, always testing and improving our ideas. Sir Karl Popper, a 20th-century philosopher of science, went so far as to assert that “all our knowledge grows only through the correcting of our mistakes.”  According to Popper, error-correction is the driving force of knowledge growth: we advance by conjecturing solutions and then openly identifying where we were wrong so that better solutions can emerge . This mindset contrasts sharply with dogmatism or infallibility. A fallibilist culture values critical discussion and revision of beliefs, seeing each refuted error not as a shameful defeat but as a step forward in understanding.

Pragmatism, an American philosophical tradition (pioneered by Charles Peirce, William James, and John Dewey), similarly celebrates the practical benefits of being open to error. Pragmatism holds that the truth of an idea is best judged by its consequences in experience – essentially a process of trial and error. John Dewey, for example, argued that a healthy democratic society (or any problem-solving community) must be free to experiment, make mistakes, and correct course based on what works . In Dewey’s view, clinging rigidly to a belief in spite of contrary evidence stifles creativity and growth. Instead, “a pragmatic orientation encourages learning from mistakes or changing direction when necessary. Progress depends on regularly reviewing how things work out through reflection-on-action and experimentation.”  This means that we improve our theories and policies by testing them in real life, and if the results are not as expected – if we discover we were wrong – we adjust our approach. Such open-minded flexibility is not just abstract philosophy; it’s a practical strategy for success. Pragmatism echoes the old wisdom that “the only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” By treating every failure as feedback, pragmatists turn setbacks into stepping stones.

It’s worth noting that even older philosophical traditions hinted at the virtue of recognizing one’s own errors. Socratic philosophy famously begins with humility about what one knows – Socrates asserted that his wisdom lay in the awareness of his own ignorance. This “Socratic humility” is a precursor to fallibilism: only by admitting what we don’t know (or might be wrong about) can we earnestly seek truth. Across these perspectives, the theme is consistent: error is inevitable, so wisdom lies in acknowledging error and using it to improve. When we accept that none of our beliefs is infallible, we create space for dialogue, inquiry, and transformation, both personally and collectively.

Psychological Insights: From Cognitive Dissonance to Growth Mindset

Being wrong doesn’t just advance philosophy or science – it also profoundly affects our psychology and personal growth. Two key concepts illustrate how engaging with our mistakes can lead to positive change: cognitive dissonance and the growth mindset.

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort we feel when we encounter information or outcomes that contradict our beliefs or self-image . Psychologist Leon Festinger’s classic theory explains that people are motivated to reduce this internal tension. For example, if I think of myself as competent and then make a serious error, I’ll experience dissonance. I might be tempted to deny or rationalize the mistake to preserve my ego (“It wasn’t my fault,” “The test was unfair”) . Indeed, often “people attempt to relieve this tension … by rejecting, explaining away, or avoiding new information” that shows they were wrong . This self-justifying impulse can be dangerous, leading us to double down on false beliefs or bad decisions simply to avoid feeling wrong. However, cognitive dissonance also has a positive side: it offers an opportunity for growth if we choose the path of honesty. Admitting “I was wrong” resolves the dissonance by aligning our beliefs with reality – we alter our self-concept or understanding of the situation instead of distorting the facts  . Though this can be painful for the ego, psychologists note it is extremely important to personal growth and healthier relationships . Rather than “protecting” a false sense of infallibility, facing the dissonance head-on means altering our mindset to accommodate the new truth, which often leads to better decisions and emotional relief. In short, overcoming cognitive dissonance through admitting error is a hallmark of a mature, learning-oriented mind. It transforms the discomfort of being wrong into a catalyst for changing oneself – whether that means correcting a mistaken belief, apologizing for a bad behavior, or simply learning something new about the world.

Hand in hand with this is the concept of mindset, particularly Carol Dweck’s distinction between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. In a fixed mindset, people believe their abilities or intelligence are static traits, and being wrong or failing is seen as proof of incompetence – something to be avoided at all costs. By contrast, a growth mindset views abilities as improvable and mistakes as valuable lessons. Research by Dweck and colleagues has shown that individuals with a growth mindset respond to challenges and errors more constructively. They see failures as opportunities to learn, not as humiliations . For example, one summary of mindset research notes: “From a growth mindset perspective, failures are perceived as learning opportunities, which leads to higher self-confidence as well as higher academic and career success.” . In educational settings, students who are taught to view errors as part of the learning process become more resilient and perform better in the long run . They might say, “I haven’t mastered this yet,” instead of “I can’t do this.” This attitude encourages them to try new strategies, seek feedback, and ultimately improve. By embracing the possibility of being wrong now in order to be right later, growth-minded individuals continuously expand their skills and knowledge. In contrast, a person with a fixed mindset might avoid difficult tasks or hide mistakes to protect the image of being “smart,” thereby missing chances to develop. Adopting a growth mindset involves reframing the meaning of mistakes: rather than signals of defeat, they become “valuable information that shows you what to do next time”. This aligns with psychologist Carol Dweck’s advice that parents and teachers should celebrate corrections and effort, reinforcing that each error corrected is a step toward mastery . Over time, this approach builds a habit of lifelong learning and adaptability. It also fosters intellectual humility – the understanding that one’s knowledge is incomplete – which is linked to openness to new ideas and less defensive reactions when proven wrong.

In summary, psychology teaches us that while our instinct may be to avoid admitting we’re wrong (to escape the sting of cognitive dissonance or ego bruising), doing the hard thing – owning our errors – is profoundly beneficial. It realigns our minds with reality (reducing inner conflict), reinforces a growth-oriented self-image, and makes us more resilient in the face of future challenges. As we will see next, these individual benefits of embracing mistakes also play out on a larger stage in scientific and social progress.

Learning from History: Errors as Catalysts for Change

History provides some of the most powerful examples of wrongness leading to progress. In both science and social movements, challenging and correcting mistaken beliefs has sparked revolutions (sometimes literally) that improved our understanding of the world and expanded justice. By examining how past errors were confronted and overcome, we can appreciate the creative power of being wrong.

Scientific Revolutions: New Truths from Old Errors

Science is often held up as the epitome of human rationality – yet it is full of mistakes. This is not a weakness of science, but its greatest strength. The scientific method is essentially a formalized system of being wrong productively. Scientists propose hypotheses and theories, then test them against reality. When experiments and observations show that a theory was wrong or incomplete, scientists must revise or replace it. In fact, the history of science is a history of error correction. Popper put it succinctly: “science is one of the very few human activities – perhaps the only one – in which errors are systematically criticized and, fairly often, in time, corrected. This is why we can say that, in science, we often learn from our mistakes, and why we can speak clearly and sensibly about making progress there.” . Each time an old scientific idea is proven wrong, a new discovery emerges. For example, when Nicolaus Copernicus and Galileo Galilei showed that the Earth is not the center of the universe, they were overturning centuries of accepted (but wrong) Ptolemaic astronomy. This Copernican Revolution faced resistance, yet by proving the old model wrong, it gave us a far more accurate understanding of the solar system – a paradigm shift that is now considered one of the great leaps forward in knowledge. Similarly, the discrediting of the phlogiston theory of combustion in the 18th century (when Antoine Lavoisier demonstrated the role of oxygen) transformed chemistry, and Albert Einstein’s recognition that Newtonian physics was wrong (or incomplete) at near-light speeds led to the revolutionary theories of relativity. These examples show a pattern: a bold willingness to admit “our previous theory was mistaken” paves the way for breakthrough innovations.

It’s not just the famous revolutions – everyday scientific work embraces mistakes as part of the process. Researchers know that failed experiments and erroneous results often point the way to new insights. As Science News journalist Tom Siegfried observed, “making mistakes is often the best path to progress” in research, because an unexpected or “wrong” result can inspire scientists to investigate further and uncover “previously unsuspected truths.”  An erroneous experiment, in other words, isn’t a waste; it’s a clue. Many major discoveries were born from experiments that didn’t go as planned. The development of penicillin, for instance, famously came from Alexander Fleming’s “mistake” of leaving a petri dish open – the contamination by mold revealed a powerful antibiotic. In modern times, scientists emphasize that failure is an integral part of scientific training: one biologist notes that “failures are really part and parcel of scientific progress. They are really inevitable and, in some sense, even essential.”  Rather than being discouraged by a failed trial, scientists often say “back to the drawing board” with a sense of optimism, knowing that finding out what doesn’t work moves them closer to what does work. This culture of learning from error is so important that many research institutions and companies celebrate “failures” (through post-mortems, or even awards for the best failed experiment) to encourage openness and creativity. In short, science advances through a cycle of conjecture, refutation, and revision – a powerful testament to how being wrong, when met with curiosity instead of denial, drives progress.

Social Movements and Moral Progress: Admitting Wrongdoing

Just as scientific knowledge evolves by correcting errors, societies progress by recognizing and righting moral wrongs. Many social justice movements can be understood as collective reckonings with the fact that “we were wrong” about a law, a practice, or a belief. History is replete with examples: for centuries, societies accepted practices like slavery, colonialism, the subjugation of women, or the persecution of minorities as “normal” or justified. Over time, activists and philosophers challenged these injustices, and eventually a critical mass of people came to admit that these practices were deeply wrong. Such admissions – often hard-won, sometimes after conflict – laid the groundwork for positive change. The abolition of slavery, for example, required American and European societies to confront the horrifying wrongness of treating human beings as property. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States succeeded in part because a majority of Americans came to acknowledge that racial segregation and discrimination were morally wrong and incompatible with the nation’s ideals. Women’s suffrage and feminist movements similarly forced a re-examination of long-held biases, leading society to correct the mistake of denying women equal rights. In each case, progress began with a painful admission: our predecessors (or we ourselves) had believed or done something unjust. By owning up to that and seeking to change it, society could move toward greater equality and empathy.

Philosophically, this aligns with fallibilism applied to morals: our ethical values and norms are not infallible either, and must be continually scrutinized. As scholar Oliver Curry explains, even our moral convictions “are tentative, provisional, and capable of improvement; and they can be, and have been, improved upon.” It is the awareness of this possibility – that we may be wrong and can do better – “allied to the ambition to seize the opportunity it represents,” that “has driven the tremendous social, moral, legal and political progress of the past few centuries.”  Indeed, free and open societies make progress when they encourage critical discussion of prevailing norms and acknowledge past mistakes. For example, South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission after apartheid explicitly focused on publicly admitting the wrongs committed under white minority rule, on the theory that truthful acknowledgment is the first step toward healing and change. Similar truth commissions and official apologies (such as governments apologizing for historical atrocities or injustices) serve a moral purpose: they validate the experience of victims, demonstrate societal learning, and hopefully prevent the wrong from recurring. Admitting a collective wrong is often uncomfortable – it can tarnish national pride or challenge group identities – but it paves the way for reconciliation and reform. It allows a society to say, “We know better now, so we will do better going forward.” In this sense, the moral progress of humanity (for instance, the near-universal declaration of human rights, or the increasing recognition of the rights of marginalized groups) can be seen as a series of “enlightenments” that occurred when people had the courage to renounce earlier, erroneous ways of thinking.

It’s important to note that moral progress is not automatic or linear; it requires people willing to confront error. Visionaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Nelson Mandela often spoke truths that the majority initially refused to hear. They were change-makers precisely because they persisted in pointing out that prevailing norms were wrong – eventually shifting public opinion. The humility of societies that have admitted wrongs (such as Germany’s acknowledgement of the Holocaust and ongoing remembrance and reparations) stands in contrast to regimes that insist on their perfection and thus fail to learn (history shows that dictatorships built on the pretense of infallibility often collapse or leave turmoil). In sum, social progress depends on collective self-correction. As with individuals, a society that can say “we made a mistake” demonstrates strength, not weakness. It gains the moral authority and insight to make things better. Every civil rights law, every expansion of liberty or equality, is effectively society’s way of correcting a past mistake in how we treated people.

The Power of Admitting Error: Learning, Innovation, Humility, and Relationships

We’ve seen that being wrong can spur progress in thought, science, and society. But the crucial factor is how we respond to being wrong. Simply erring is not inherently beneficial; it’s the recognition and admission of error – and the subsequent efforts to learn or make amends – that unlock the positive potential of mistakes. In our personal and professional lives, admitting when we are wrong is often a turning point toward growth. It fosters an environment (within ourselves and around us) where learning, innovation, humility, and trust can flourish. Below, we summarize the key benefits that come from embracing and owning our errors:

• Continuous Learning and Innovation: Acknowledging mistakes is essential for learning new information and solving problems in creative ways. In business, education, or any skill, people improve faster when they analyze what went wrong and adjust. As one science writer put it, “making mistakes is often the best path to progress” because correcting an error can reveal “previously unsuspected truths” . Teams that treat failures as feedback (“fail fast, learn faster”) tend to innovate more, since they aren’t paralyzed by the fear of being wrong. Admitting a flaw in a project or an error in strategy allows groups to pivot to better approaches instead of persisting on a faulty path. In short, admitting errors keeps us in a learning mindset and stimulates innovation, whereas denial would shut down the chance to improve.

• Cultivation of Humility and Open-Mindedness: When we say “I was wrong,” we practice intellectual humility – an awareness that we don’t have all the answers. This makes us more open to others’ ideas and new evidence. Psychologists note that admitting mistakes shows we are capable of being objective about ourselves and not “perfect” or always right  . Such humility is a valuable trait: it prevents arrogance and overconfidence, which can lead to bigger blunders. In leadership contexts, contrary to the old notion that a leader must appear infallible, “acknowledging one’s mistakes fosters a culture of humility, learning, and adaptability” within an organization . Colleagues and subordinates are more likely to speak up with ideas or concerns when they know their leaders are willing to reconsider and change course. On a personal level, embracing that one can be wrong leads to greater wisdom – it reminds us to always question and seek truth rather than cling stubbornly to what we wish to be true. Humility born from fallibility also encourages lifelong learning: if you never admit gaps or errors, you’ll never try to fill them; if you do admit them, you’re motivated to grow.

• Stronger Relationships and Trust: Admitting mistakes can be difficult for the ego, but it is immensely rewarding for relationships. When you own up to a mistake – whether it’s a minor misunderstanding or a major wrongdoing – you signal respect for the other person’s feelings or perspective. Psychologists who study apologies have found that the most important component is an acknowledgment of responsibility: saying clearly “I was wrong and I’m sorry,” which shows the injured parties that you care about making things right  . This act of vulnerability often leads to forgiveness and repairs trust. In contrast, refusing to admit you’re wrong can breed resentment and erode relationships over time. As one analysis explains, “by admitting the wrongdoing, you show that you value [others] as much — or more than — you value your own need to seem infallible.”  Admitting error thus communicates empathy and regard for others’ well-being above one’s pride. Whether in friendships, marriages, or workplace teams, this builds a foundation of trust and safety. People know they can rely on an honest counterpart who will take responsibility rather than hide problems. Many effective leaders deliberately model this behavior: they publicly acknowledge errors or reversals, which in turn encourages a blame-free culture where everyone works to fix issues rather than cover them up. Over time, relationships in which people can admit mistakes freely tend to be stronger, more resilient, and more authentic, because all parties know that truth and improvement take precedence over ego.

• Personal Growth and Resilience: Finally, admitting mistakes is linked to personal development traits like resilience and integrity. It can be liberating to drop the pretension of always being right. As one clinical psychologist noted, coming clean about a mistake can “feel liberating and put you and everyone in your life on a path towards a better future.”  It allows you to move on without guilt and with lessons learned. People who integrate their missteps into their life story – “I struggled or failed at first, then I learned and improved” – often develop a stronger sense of self-efficacy. They see that they can recover and grow, which makes them less afraid of future challenges. In a sense, each time you admit a mistake and bounce back, you build emotional muscle for the next difficulty. You also reinforce your principles: acting with honesty and accountability even when it’s hard solidifies your moral character. This contributes to long-term success more than the short-term ego boost of being “right.” Indeed, studies have even suggested that refusing to ever acknowledge errors can lead to psychological distress (guilt, anxiety, imposter syndrome)  , whereas confronting them head-on leads to healthier outcomes.

In light of all these points, it’s clear that being wrong is not the end of the world – it’s often the beginning of a new path. Fallible though we are, we have the remarkable capacity to learn from every mistake. History and research overwhelmingly support the idea that when humans approach error with honesty and curiosity, we innovate faster, educate ourselves better, act more ethically, and connect with each other more deeply. Admitting an error is sometimes painful, but it transforms mistakes from dead-ends into turning points. In the words of a wise saying: “To err is human, to forgive divine,” to which we might add – to admit and learn from error is the first step on the path of progress. Every time we say “I was wrong – now what can I learn from this?”, we choose growth over stagnation. Far from being a sign of weakness, this willingness to be wrong (and to correct wrongs) is one of humanity’s greatest strengths, driving us toward greater knowledge, compassion, and success.