How often do you put your own Intellect at the Service of Opinions that Contradict your Beliefs?

Question

When I hear views that contradict mine, I tend to immediately react by putting my own ideas forward, and identifying flaws in the opposing views.

Sometimes I play devils advocate, generally amongst groups of friends who share my opinions, but want to enjoy the debate.

Very rarely, but sometimes, I will sit down and really try to think "in the mindset" of views which oppose my own. Work to the best of my ability to understand them, elaborate on them and see if they logically override my existing beliefs.

Because if you cannot challenge your beliefs with all your own intellect, in your own time, in quiet reasoning, how can you really have the courage of your convictions?

It seems like a philosophical question, yet I think it applies very strongly to the prejudices between genders. Walking a mile in the others shoes, beyond that, looking logically at why people hold different beliefs.

How often do you put your own Intellect at the Service of Opinions that Contradict your Beliefs?

Answer 1

Until only recently, when I write it has been for other people as a "collaborative" writer, a ghost writer. I took whatever assignment I could for the last thirty years, here and there, to learn how to write and THINK more clearly. I deliberately sought assignments that would force me to exercise "devil advocacy". One week I would write a powerful and persuasive pro-gun control article. The next week I would write a powerful and persuasive anti-gun control article. I also had to write about exotic oddball subjects, such as podiatry research, rolfing or nitrogen-fixation in legumes, which required on my part a rational process for quickly perceiving perspectives and overviews to be able to juggle the main points intelligently enough to construct applications with them. That taught me how to truly appreciate any perspective.

And, in philosophical debates with my children, I preferred positions in dichotomies which I personally had no stake in one way or another, purposefully in order to study not the subject but the debate process it self without passion and bias possibly skewing my observations. Also, in nursing and other professional activities, I sought advocacy roles within positions that I was not comfortable with, such as advocating for rapists (representing and assisting them to negotiate the health care / social / legal systems) during investigations and counseling.

I have been trying to figure out what part of us in our conflicts / debates is ourselves, our own messy human passions, and which part of our conflicts are problems in the debate / discourse process itself. I explored the existing "peace college" approaches, Plato to the the U.N., that we have devised to resolve conflict with diplomacy, rationality and non-violent ethical problem-solving. What is occuring here on GWS is without a doubt the best, most healthy process that exists or possibly has ever existed in human civilizations. It's vibrant, rich, human and honest and includes, for the first time in history, ordinary people of all ages, all socio-economic backgrounds, all faiths, beliefs systems, nationalities, cultures . . .and gender.

GWS is like seriously HOT, this spit and froth of good ordinary people shaking their passionate beliefs in each others faces. It is where the most real, uncompromised human discourse in the world is happening. Why do you think I am here when I could be anywhere? This is a good place to learn. The heat is so sincere, so passionate here, that this is one of those true rare crucibles in which NEW beliefs, agreements, hybrids, are being forged by people together. And, if agreement requires a blast furnace as hot as it gets here, that works for me!

Look at not what beliefs contradict each other in debate, but what measure of AGREEMENT between beliefs emerge. It's clearly easier to invade a nation with tanks and "win" that way than it is to do the hard work to eke out a tiny measure, a teaspoon of agreement. Although invaders and savages seem victorious, their victory is not eternal. But, those teaspoons of rational agreement are eternal, and they accumulate into the only true and honorable victory we've achieved as a species over savagery and suffering. Ultimately, the goal of human discourse is not about one pet belief "winning" out over another. It's about agreement, about putting ourselves in the service of forming a workable weave of belief together.

Answer 2

I was just talking about this with my boyfriend, how often can we look at a point of view radically different from our own. I decided to stay away from the Religious & Spirituality forum after someone rightly pointed out that I was making a lot of assumptions about conservative Christians. Since my parents are fundy Christians, I grew up some very different people, which is the point, they were different, not typical! When I first came to the Women's Studies forum (now GWS), I fell right for the troll traps and got all outraged, but after a while, I skipped most of those questions and researched some of the more moderate questions and learned quite a bit about the topics the masculinists are upset about it. It was enlightening, especially people from other countries who pointed out all sorts of interesting ways feminism, sexism, and masculism were being implemented around the world.

But other times when the question sounds so sexist, it's hard not to assume the worst. I've been going to the Politics forum lately, since nearly everyone who answers the questions I've been picking are being sarcastic, so I can say what I like.

I stopped trying to change people's minds or point of view, that's not the greatest cause, lol. Now I either just state what I think like other people, or I research the answer because I really want to know more about the question.

Answer 3

I sometimes habitually and immediately react by putting my own ideas foreword. It is a habit and sometimes I just need to listen more to understand the conflicting ideas. I love to play devils advocate because I learn more that way about the topic of "conflict." I like to think and challenge my own and others thoughts. I am a mother of 3 male children, no girls and have had much practice in understanding males. They are sweet and infuriating too, but so are females.(smile) The social expectations have been somewhat different in history but is slowly changing to allow for more expansive roles. I have recently taken a class that studied the differences of how males and females use language and generally the purposes of each gender is different. But the studies are really only general. On the other hand women's and Men's brains are hardwired differently and the hormones excreted by the body are also different. So men and women's goals and reactions and interactions in the world are slightly different too. I do like to challenge my own and others intellect. I want to know the "truth" whatever that is...

Answer 4

I agree with your 4th paragraph in that you can't have the courage of your convictions if your convictions aren't challenged enough to the point where you question it. That is what being open minded is about. You are open and willing to hear other ideas that opposes your own and then ask yourself why they hold those ideas and beliefs. This however do not mean that you sacrifice your own principles for the sake of harmony.

To me, when it comes to my principles, I prefer to stand like a rock but it doesn't mean I won't take other people's unique experiences into consideration either.

Answer 5

I simply call this having an open mind. It is a wonderful ability for us to constantly re-evaluate one's long held beliefs and criticise them, look at them from others perspectives and then rework them when necessary.

I did this with religion, as I was brought up in a christian family, and found that my life was so much more fulfilled when I used my intellectual integrity to question the beliefs that I was expected to have. Life as an atheist has been the most emotionally and intellectually fulfilling experience due to this. I constantly question my feelings and beliefs on issues, this is how I arrive at my ethics and it is how I appreciate the 'shades of grey' in life that make some fearful.

I think our innate desire to stereotype perhaps the most common issue in developing prejudice. So many people have a belief and only look at the evidence that supports that belief to ensure that belief gets stronger. When one decides not to stereotype and prejudge, then there is no bias to do this and it makes life a hell of a lot more interesting and more wonderful.

Answer 6

Often.
I attempt to resolve issues through intellect.
Occasionally I get cross but not often.
I attempt logically to work my way through a situation.
If I draw a blank then like you I place myself in the other persons shoes and walk the mile with them.
When I can get a grip on their perspective I slowly begin to change their views.
It may take time but I always get there as I never give up.

Answer 7

I see it as a duty to myself to question my own views. I know I have been wrong and that it is possible for me to be wrong again. I love this quote from Socrates; "An unexamined life is not worth living." When men and women get together, they should take some time to share what makes them tick as far as they are able to put that into words. We won't ever get better at this if we are afraid to hear something we won't like.
C. :)!!

Answer 8

You are confused, dear one. We are Christian Jehovah's witnesses, just like the Baptist call themselves Baptist after John the "baptizer." Christians--Jehovah's witnesses are one and the same. Jesus Christ ordered us to "go out and preach by two's..." and that is what we do. We preach the good news about Jehovah God's incoming Kingdom. Many will and have, listened--but some will proudly refuse. Then when they tell us they are not interested, and not to call we will comply. "How will they hear without someone to preach?" We regret that. but will move on to the next house.

Answer 9

I do this often. It can help you own argument if you can understand how they came to their conclusions. And sometimes, seeing that process will make you re-evaluate your own ideas and beliefs. The fact that someone else feels differently about a subject doesn't mean they are wrong - just that their viewpoint is different, or that their values are different, from mine.

Answer 10

Fine question, yet I prefer the 'safer' ground of ideas and lifestyles that complement my feelings. Once I worked for a boss who was the antithesis of my worldview, and although I stuck to my guns and did right, he never liked nor promoted me. I never kissed a**,and he's still serving satan. I would never compromise my beliefs, not even for a bigger paycheck. Do life right, or get off the planet! Amen.