And, as a corollary, can saying someone has a closed mind ever be meant in other than a pejorative sense?
2007-03-19 01:02:20 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think an 'open mind' need mean that you don't hold opinions, nor that you aren't prepared to defend these.
But it does mean that you are prepared to allow other people the opportunity to put forward their views without pre-judging. It also suggests being open to the possibility of changing your point of view.
As for being closed minded, the Tao Te Ching says
"While alive, the body is soft and pliant
When dead, it is hard and rigid
All living things, grass and trees,
While alive, are soft and supple
When dead, become dry and brittle"
I think the mind too can 'die' and become brittle. So no, not a good thing at all.
Thank you for asking.
.
2007-03-19 01:30:28 · answer #1 · answered by Nobody 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i think of that Susan C got here very on the fringe of what you're searching for for and that's to no longer choose people. besides the fact that if, i ought to upload something right here. merely with the flexibility to settle for the two facets of an argument accomplishes no longer something. Open mindedness isn't a stalemate, neither is it a confusion. There must be a foundation of theory. suited and incorrect must be defined. occasion. ought to I settle for single determine families and sexual promiscuity as something this is suited? No i do no longer. Will I settle for that persons each and every each and every now and then make blunders? sure I do.
2016-10-19 01:44:18 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the term "open mind" is subject to self-definition more than anything.
And, yes, when people use the term "closed mind", it certainly is in the pejorative sense. I can't see how it could be used otherwise.
2007-03-19 01:30:58 · answer #3 · answered by Kallan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An open mind turns over stones, looks at as many views as they can and is receptive to the potetial that things not not always as they seem.
Pejorativeism isn't a prerequist for a closed mind. It usually indicates an attitude, alone, or prejudice.
That, alone, is not necessarily being closed minded. I, for example, am totally repulsed by egg plant, I don't like how it looks or how it tatests and I don't like being around it. It doesn't make me closed minded to food, it just means I'm bothered by that particular one.
2007-03-19 01:45:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Forgive my ignorance, but I do not know what pejorative means.
That being said, I believe an open mind means the ability to listen to and be open to ideas that are not your own. Or ideas that fall outside your own belief system. To me it means looking "outside the box" of my lifestyle, belief's, experience & upbringing. To respect someone else's belief's and be non-judgemental. My only reservation is that it do no harm to others.
2007-03-19 01:19:56 · answer #5 · answered by Barbiq 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The acknowledgement that even though you have a set of beliefs, you are willing to listen to other beliefs, accepting their validity and defending them - even though they may be "wrong" by your belief's standard. You may even be willing to change your mind.
To accept that you don't know everything and that life is journey of discovery.
A closed mind can be good in some areas, but very few come to mind at the moment.
2007-03-19 03:53:27 · answer #6 · answered by awayforabit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your mind is like a clear blue sky. Clouds are thoughts. When you start following the clouds, instead of watching them drift by, you are "attaching" to them and their content and starting to believe their appearance to be real when, in fact, they are not made of anything or substantial at all. Our opinions and identification with our selves to be anything more (or less) than the content of our mind could to some extent be the reason for one's mind to be considered "open" or "closed." Either way, it is not "real," or permanent, or unchanging. It is neither "open" or "closed" without you labelling it as such.
2007-03-19 01:56:50 · answer #7 · answered by shrill alarmist, I'm sure 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know everyone has their own opinion about what it means to have an open mind, but I always think of it as someone who is willing to consider other theories seriously.
They may reject the theory eventually, but at least they are willing to listen.
I think you may be right, I can't think of a single good definition of "closed mind" lol
2007-03-19 01:11:58 · answer #8 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Having an open mind means being prepared to listen. After that point you can chose to accept or reject the information on it's merits as you percieve them.
The important part is that first step..................listening.
2007-03-19 01:18:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
"A completely open mind could be likened to a pipe that lets just anything flow through it -even sewage. No one wants a mind contaminated with poison. Solomon, a king and educator in ancient times, warned: "Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, but the shrewd one considers his steps." (Proverbs 14:15) So we need to be selective. We need to scrutinize whatever is presented to us, deciding what to accept and what to reject.
However, we do not want to be so narrow that we refuse to consider facts that can improve our thinking."
I agree with the above quote. Clearly, we need to find the right balance.
Hannah J Paul
2007-03-19 01:10:49 · answer #10 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋