On Fallible Leadership

The Louisville Courier-Journal has published an interview of George Soros about his new book, "The Age of Falliblity." Here's a quote:

He said individuals and governments often make fatal mistakes because they become consumed with their own bias and rhetoric, even when facts contradict that version of reality.

"We are open to correct our errors, or we (insist) that our view is, in fact, the reality that we have to deal with," he said.

The "fallibility" in the book title refers to a leadership philosophy, which Soros advocates, that acknowledges the limits of its own wisdom and knowledge, and seeks constant improvement.

"Understanding is imperfect, and there is a reality beyond our will," he said. "The truth can be manipulated, but the extent to which the outcome will approximate our will depends on the extent to which our understanding approximates reality."

Admitting fallibility requires a measure of maturity. Leaders will find it much easier to acknowledge their fallibility when they have followers who refuse to be deluded about their faults and imperfections.

Many Americans have been slow in acquiring such political maturity, but a lot of us have been growing up fast over the past five years.