What is open-mindedness?

Question

I hear this used colloquially, but I don't have a clue what it means.

It could mean:
1) "Consider all the possibilities"
2) "Don't commit yourself to anything"
3) "Don't be closed-minded"

If it's any of the above, how is "open-mindedness" not already "closed-minded"?

Answer 1

Mr. M's point (if I am not mistaken) is that if being "open minded" truly is considering all the possiblities, or not being closed-minded, does that not already presume something about your approach? Are you not already discounting or closing something before you approach the situation? In order for you to consider all possibilites it would appear necessary that you entertain the possiblity of not considering all possibilites.

My response would be that open-mindedness would appear to mean a willingness to hear everyone out before coming to a conclusion about his or her position.

Answer 2

What is open-mindedness?

1. Being open-minded is more than just considering all the possiblities. If it was only considering the possibilities, it wouldn't be open-mindedness, because to be open-minded means to be accepting of whateve is coming at you. It means to "suspend judgement," allow the scene in the play or situation to play itself out without judging.

2. Being open-minded is definitely not "Don't commit yourself to anything," because it doesn't pertain to commitment, it has to do with listening without formulating what you're going to say next.

3. Closed mindedness describes the attitude in a person who is unhospitable, unaccepting, unwilling to put themselves out, unwilling to stretch what they know or what they've experienced. An open-minded person is willing to give the other the benefit of the doubt. They may not understand how or why the other has come to the conclusion they have, but they're are willing to wait, to listen, to suspend judgement and hear the other out to his/her conclusion. Then and only then will the Open minded person make a decision or close his or her options.

Open mindedness is an attitude of mind and heart. It's a way of respecting the other and allowing the other to be who they are and think what they want to think. It allows us to enter the other's world, even if for a brief time.

In conclusion, considering the possibilites is too future orientated. No commiting yourself to anything is too self-centered. Being open minded means living in the present and focusing on the other, trying to listen to them and understand their perspective, point of view and insights.

Answer 3

Open-mindedness is being open to hearing and learning all sides to things, even if you currently oppose them. It's also the ability to truly listen and try to understand all aspects of things without giving negative feedback about them. And lastly, it is being able to accept when you are wrong and have learned that you feel differently than you thought, or being able to say that you genuinely know all sides and still stand committed to one, none, or several.

Many people claim to be open-minded, yet they already have a strong opinion, and they will listen to things, but they have a constant commentary of their own opinions running through their head, or they just becom defensive. When you are closed-minded, you refuse to change your opinion no matter how unrational or uninformed that decision is. You also have trouble hearing another side of things without interjecting your own values, beliefs, or stance in the matter. Being closed-minded means that while you may listen, you aren't learning anything, you don't wish to understand anything new, and you truly only value your own opinion.

Answer 4

i guess open mindedness is expected of us who refuse to see the light. Sometimes this term is just an excuse for us to drop our standards. It all depends on our value system and how much we are willing to go against what we feel in our hearts shoud be the norm.
Its sad but the norm is dropping a lot everyday...but maybe i am just too closed-minded?

Answer 5

i would agree with the first but i would disagree with the rest.
to me, open-mindness would refer to being open to all posibilities and listening and carefully considering the matter before coming to a conclusion.
if being open minded just means considering all possibilities and not committing to anything , then it seems an excuse to be wishy- washy and not making a stand for what you believe.
being closed minded , to me means that you have already decided and won't listen or consider any other opinons or facts.
so think on it,consider and decide.
God bless,
gabe

Answer 6

Open mindedness is basically being open to all possibilities. It's not considering them, it just is. And it doesn't mean you aren't commited to anything, simply that you aren't going to stick to just one thing if something better comes along.

Answer 7

being open minded means that you are willing to accept the different possibilities of what could be real or the truth.

that you havent cemented yourself into a certian view point and refuse to think that only that view point can be correct.

to look at something unbiasdly (yeah i dont know if thats a word, whatever, you get what it mean). ...anyway, unbiasdly and give things an equal chance and only accept or deny something when it rationally makes sense to do so.

that is being open minded. being open minded means you admit that you dont know.

Answer 8

"accepting and rejecting all ideologies both utilizing an identical criteria of analysis?" I do precisely that. even as someone makes a declare (no count number number what it truly is) i reject it if it would not in good structure properly with the data/evidence. technology is its own evidence i have self belief. Many kinds of technology have proved themselves time and time again, through technologial advances, and new study that confirms the former. technology has a reliable music record so I take that as evidence that Scientist tell the reality. Religions are meant to be perfect truths and many contradict eachother so maximum could be out suitable lies. i exploit that as evidence that faith is unreliable.

Answer 9

Open mindedness means being open to examine all possibilities, and not rejecting one out of hand.

Close mindedness means one has already decided that only one possibility is correct, and all others, even those they haven't examined, are wrong.

Answer 10

Open mindedness is the ability to entertain a thought without necessarily adopting it.