Agree or disagree?

The “have an open mind” crowd are more than just logically wrong. Their way of thinking is actually destructive to good ideas. Bad ideas should be discarded - by weeding out bad ideas the good can flourish. An earlier version of this argument would have gone, “You’re closed-minded in saying that humors don’t exist” to justify bloodletting. But by focusing uncritically on bloodletting, germ theory would never have been discovered. Germ theory was discovered by skeptical scientists who insisted on evidence, not by new-agers with open minds.

If you accept something when there is no reason to believe it is true you are just credulous. And if you will not reject something when there is no reason to believe in it then you are in freefall – you will believe in anything. This way of thinking is a complete dead end. Or to put it another way, don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out.

Votes	Answer
10	Sort of agree and disagree....
9	Disagree
7	Agree

User	Comment
RGirl	posted 19-Apr-2007 11:51pm The explanation is a bit long. I lost track as to what I am supposed to agree or disagree on.
LindaH	posted 19-Apr-2007 11:51pm I disagree with that perception of what it means to "have an open mind." You can keep an open mind and still keep your sense. Don't be so open minded that your brains fall out. Too much of a good thing. That doesn't mean it's bad to be an all around open minded person.
Frostbrand	posted 20-Apr-2007 12:17am I don't think that's what "open-minded" actually means.
icurok	posted 20-Apr-2007 6:30am I think you have it the wrong way around. It is open-mindedness that allows the creation of new ideas. If people were closed-minded, then the human race would be dominated by the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" doctrine. It is openness to new ideas that leads to discovery. Being open minded should be about reserving judgment on something new until you have enough information to properly evaluate it. It is closed-mindedness that assumes "it'll never work". People who are open-minded are by definition more willing to open themselves up to new experiences, new cultures and new ways of thinking. The trick about being open-minded though, is that you can't reserve judgment forever. Once you have enough information to decide whether something is worthwhile, make a decision. If you can't, then it's not being open-minded that's your problem, it's that you're an intellectual coward.
dab	posted 20-Apr-2007 7:24am It sounds like the author doesn't understand what it means to have an open mind. For example, "focusing uncritically on bloodletting" would not be an example of having an open mind.
bill	posted 20-Apr-2007 8:25am I'm not sure I understand, but I'm going to agree, because I think you're right in that having an "open mind" can actually be destructive, since it so often seems to go with a lack of critical thinking. For example, all the new age crap we have in our culture these days. Open minded people eat that crap up. Plus, like I said in your other survey, open-minded-ness is largely a matter of perspective.
jettles	posted 20-Apr-2007 10:30am i disagree. the original "germ" theorists didn't have a strong backing either and didn't have the "science" to back them up and so they were another theory that if people or scientists weren't open to it, they wouldn't have studied hard enough to find the information to back it. it's a circular argument.
CarolL	posted 20-Apr-2007 11:48am What does this mean? “You’re closed-minded in saying that humors don’t exist” to justify bloodletting.
Enheduanna	posted 20-Apr-2007 12:43pm It's handy that the world is so black and white and ideas come labeled "good" and "bad."
Cain	posted 20-Apr-2007 12:59pm Disagree. I have an open mind, but that's not to say I'm a pushover who will believe whatever I'm told. I believe there are circumstances and situations out there for which no logical answer can be given, no evidence can be found, but that doesn't mean that just because we can't quantify or qualify them in some way, they aren't true. Ahem, I'll, er, just take my Mulder persona and put it away now.
Iseult	posted 20-Apr-2007 1:18pm I'm sorry, there is a good reason why I only took one Philosophy course in my life. I don't have an idea what you're talking about.
mandy	posted 20-Apr-2007 2:09pm I think the open minded should be more open minded to the ideas of those who they deem closed minded and visa versa. We can all learn from each other. Do not throw out the baby with the bathwater just because you dislike someone's basic ideals or stance. You could lose something very valuable.
cerealkiller	posted 20-Apr-2007 6:47pm Too tired to try to decipher this content.
cloudhugger	posted 22-Apr-2007 11:58pm Having an open mind does not mean you accept something. hving an open mind means you are not closing the window on any outcome, or influencing the decision making. I'm really not following any of this, it seems illogical, I can only say that an open mind IMHO has nothing to do with what was said in the explanation. so I am disagreeing.
cloudhugger	(reply to Enigma) posted 23-Apr-2007 12:00am Where did you find that quote? What's the scoop sis?
Zang	posted 24-Apr-2007 12:27am That's the most idiotic statement I've read since those letters to the editor in the tabloid I picked up off the staff room table on my break today. Is it supposed to be a Straw man?
southernyankee	posted 24-Apr-2007 5:24pm Agree, there is such a thing as being too open minded. Astrology, psychic reading, tarot cards, psychic "energy", any leftover Freudian theories, all come to mind. I know I will get cruficed by KristalRose for that if she comes across my comment.
Pomeranian	posted 29-Apr-2007 5:23am Have fun on the planet Vulcan.
krazykatlady	posted 20-May-2007 1:20am I agree that the statement thoroughly confused me.
Cleo	posted 9-Aug-2007 10:57pm OTHER!!!
Cleo	(reply to Iseult) posted 9-Aug-2007 10:59pm > I'm sorry, there is a good reason why I only took > one Philosophy course in my life. I don't have > an idea what you're talking about. HA!!!!!!! Good Answer!!
Cleo	(reply to RGirl) posted 9-Aug-2007 11:02pm > The explanation is a bit long. I lost track as > to what I am supposed to agree or disagree on. > hands you an ore Welcome to my boat, have a seat!
Cleo	(reply to mandy) posted 9-Aug-2007 11:06pm > I think the open minded should be more open minded > to the ideas of those who they deem closed minded > and visa versa. We can all learn from each other. > Do not throw out the baby with the bathwater just > because you dislike someone's basic ideals or > stance. You could lose something very valuable. hands you a gold star Hey woman! long time no see!
Cleo	(reply to cerealkiller) posted 9-Aug-2007 11:07pm > Too tired to try to decipher this content. hands you a cup of coffee
Cleo	(reply to cloudhugger) posted 9-Aug-2007 11:09pm > Having an open mind does not mean you accept something. > having an open mind means you are not closing the > window on any outcome, or influencing the decision > making. I'm really not following any of this, > it seems illogical, I can only say that an open > mind IMHO has nothing to do with what was said > in the explanation. so I am disagreeing. lots of calapping going on here Good answer!!
Cleo	(reply to southernyankee) posted 9-Aug-2007 11:10pm > Agree, there is such a thing as being too open > minded. Astrology, psychic reading, tarot cards, > psychic "energy", any leftover Freudian theories, > all come to mind. I know I will get cruficed > by KristalRose for that if she comes across my > comment. I'll email her (this page) & let her know your Freudian thoughts on this issue.
Cleo	(reply to Zang) posted 9-Aug-2007 11:14pm > That's the most idiotic statement I've read since > those letters to the editor in the tabloid I picked > up off the staff room table on my break today. > Is it supposed to be a Straw man? I know.... I don't follow it either. Perhaps he was up too late when creating this survey? Sleep deprivation?
cloudhugger	(reply to Cleo) posted 10-Aug-2007 12:23am
Cleo	(reply to cloudhugger) posted 10-Aug-2007 12:37am > He either had too much coffee or not enough sleep.
southernyankee	(reply to Cleo) posted 10-Aug-2007 8:37pm She's really big into astrology. Not so much Freud though, tg.
Cleo	(reply to southernyankee) posted 10-Aug-2007 11:09pm I know .................. When I finally met her in person I could barely keep my mind straight. I must say tho, she REALLY is something to behold. Wish you could met her too!
mandy	(reply to Cleo) posted 29-Aug-2009 1:51pm And even longer now....Are you still around this place Miss Cleo?
Cleo	(reply to mandy) posted 2-Sep-2009 10:26pm I miss you,woman!!!
mandy	(reply to Cleo) posted 3-Sep-2009 1:51pm HUG*

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Last	single	18-Apr-2007	opinion	Enigma	by votes	43	3	52.4%