Why We Should Be More Open Minded

If a person never learns how to have control over what they think or how to view things differently then they will live much of their adult life arrogant, in their head, or upset. David Foster Wallace begins by discussing how liberal arts colleges “teach you how to think” and continues to discuss how he has always disliked this. He already believes he knows how to think, being that thinking is what got him in college in the first place. He explains how everyone thinks differently and has their own thing that they worship but, everyone views themselves as the center of the universe. This point of view can leave people living day to day life finding every reason to be angry or annoyed about everything surrounding them. With that, he says all

I just want someone to hear what I have to say. And maybe if I talk long enough, it’ll make sense. And I want you to teach me to understand what I read.” (Bradbury 82). Since in society individuals have no feelings, one can’t think open mindedly.

Overcoming resistance to change: By having an open mind and welcoming, not necessarily accepting, many new ideas.

At least once in your life, you will encounter someone with a different opinion than you. You will hit a wall with ideas. Someone will voice their opinion against what you believe, and it will hurt. Everyone can remember an experience where they felt this, and everyone knows how it feels when your opinion is rejected.

Thomas the Apostle once said that seeing is believing, and rightfully so. A person consciously chooses to stand firm in his beliefs until given cold, hard evidence that proves a different reality and opens his eyes. Coming to understand these new facts is a vital part of life that man must face in order to better understand the natural world. However, new knowledge can become a double-edged sword when it attributes to man's disillusionment. An individual's mindset falls into the depths of despair when introduced to a harsh reality that clashes with his previous perceptions of right and wrong.

Throughout our lives, we will come across other individuals whose opinions differ from ours. Whether we decide to shadow their beliefs or stay strong to our own, it is how we handle the situation, as well as what we take from it, that shapes our character. I am now aware that, for the most part, it is best to have your own voice and remain firm to what you believe in instead of changing your views in order to please others just to fit in.

“The doors of wisdom are never shut” was the first thing to stand out to me from Benjamin Franklin’s literary works. To me it means that there is always more to learn no matter how much is already known. Someone could have been learning as much as possible since the day they were born and still not have leaned even close to everything. People

I often asked myself why it's so easy for me to talk about a large number of social issues with my close friends and family, yet when it comes to voicing my opinions to others, I am wary. It seems as though I'm only comfortable with voicing my opinions about controversial social issues to those who also share the same views as I do. Rather than stepping out of my comfort zone to talk about these issues directly to those who oppose my opinions, I retreat to instead reading about the opposing sides. In retrospect, I've noticed that discussing issues with those who agree with you is like “preaching to the choir.” I believe that being involved in an open dialogue with those who have different opinions from my own is a much more effective way to induce progressive thought. In attempting to discover a reason for why this may be the case, I cannot help but think that it is in part due to my upbringing. My mother has always been very reserved when it comes to discussing controversial issues with others. In addition, she would

The life of one can be dramatically altered in so many ways, but so often is it impacted by the teachings of others. The thoughts and ideas of another individual can have a lasting affect merely by being spoken (7).The human mind is as moldable and impressionable as clay. Take for example the subject of philosophy, a field that is devoted to delving into the ideas and beliefs of great thinkers. The simple act of hearing these ideas causes change within the individual, whether or not they agree or disagree with what is being taught. The moment the idea reaches that person they form an opinion on it, these thoughts then form into beliefs, and finally into new and unique ideas (12). Thinkers like Plato and Nietzche both relished in the idea of getting into the minds of others to open their horizons. Plain parables like The Cave were much more than playful stories. Instead Plato served to point out the flaws within our concept of reality through the simplicity of story telling (2). The

When a student takes a college course it is the instructor’s hope that that they can introduce the student to a new view on what is being taught. Keeping an open mind to what is being instructed one can expect to do well in their class. Gutting made just that point when he pointed out that it is not about a student trying to find an instructor that will teach in alignment to the student’s personal ideals. The ultimate goal is to have an open mind and learn something new so that you can expand your knowledge of a subject you already know or to just learn new material altogether.

When I was a kid, I was surprised to find out that I could have conflicting viewpoints with other people. I knew that I might not have the same favorite food as someone else, but I thought that everyone shared the same core values. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that my childish thinking was very wrong. I live in a world in which all opinions, beliefs, and ideas exist, even ones that are plain wrong.

The app ReThink is extremely necessary in today’s society. For example, the app handles cyberbullying. Teenagers don’t think before they post or text a rude comment to a victim.The app allows the person to think twice before they regret what they have said or done. ReThink increases prevention of cyberbullying.

“To use the mind as it's all too commonly used, on the kinds of things that it's usually used on, it is about as inefficient and inappropriate as using a magic sword to open up a can of beans.” (Benjamin Hoff pg 150). The quote from this passage is highlighting the fact that the brain does not necessarily have to be used throughout all situations. Common Sense is the basic ability of understanding which is reasonably shared between all people no matter what shape or size they are however this concept is hardly implied since we overthink too much. Opening beans with a magic sword sounds way too far fetched yet most people would do that if they could. One does not need to really open their mind in the most simple of situations if they just use

“The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum....”

“If we allow ourselves to become unreflective persons, we are likely to do injury to ourselves and others, and to miss many opportunities to make our own lives, and the lives of others, fuller, happier, and more productive.” (Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2013) This is so important to understand because when I do have an opinion and try to voice it or ask questions, people do not take me seriously.