Speaking of questions….

Posted on 16th August 2004 by MRDA

I posed this question in another LJ, and I’ll pose it here now…

Where is the line drawn between an open mind, and a mind lacking conviction?

~MRDA~

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5 Responses to Speaking of questions….

  1. orobouros says:
    16th August 2004 at 1:26 am

    one has someone in the driver’s seat, and the other doesn’t?
    This is an issue I deal with in my studies. I encounter a number of people who in their desire to be “open minded” feel that any act for themselves is a selfish act, and therefore “bad”. Any choice, any decision becomes hierarchichal in nature, and therefore “bad”. I’ve known political acivists who spread themselves so thin in regards to the world’s issues, that they can’t take care of their own families or themselves, but are unable to see the hypocrisy or damage.
    It’s wonderful to get caught up in “we’re all one” and “great web of being” type thoughts, but we also have our individual identities, and there’s nothing wrong with them.
    I guess, in a round about way, I’m trying to say that I see a lot of people who want to be/feel “all inclusive”, but forget to include themselves. If you do nothing but give to everyone and everything except yourself, there won’t be anyone left to do the giving.
    I’m not sure if any of this is on subject or maybe just tangentially related, but this is what immediately springs to mind.

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    • MRDA says:
      16th August 2004 at 1:34 am

      To “love everything” is to value nothing, as I always say…I’ve never really been one for the whole “We are One” mode of thought…
      Interesting insights – I agree with what you said. There are many figures, political and celebrity, through history that fit this view….

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      • orobouros says:
        16th August 2004 at 1:41 am

        To “love everything” is to value nothing
        Precisely.
        One thing that I admit to having a bad habit of, is putting questions to those who claim to “love everything”, such as “how about the Nazis?” or “how about *insert hate group here*?”
        The philosophical wrestling that takes place in people’s minds is fun to watch.
        After all, if you love the Nazis, what does that make you?
        On the other hand, if you don’t love the Nazis, you can’t exactly claim to “love everything”, now can you?
        “loving the sinner and hating the sin” is fudging it.
        that’s how hate crimes are justified, and how crusades are started.

        Reply
  2. konami says:
    16th August 2004 at 1:58 am

    Conviction is the line.

    Reply
  3. newedition says:
    23rd August 2004 at 10:03 pm

    My idea is:
    Open mind = willing to listen to viewpoints you had not previously thought of or considered. Goal is to discover truth, not to argue. Form opinion/decision after analyzing the argument.
    Mind lacking conviction = thinks all opinions are equally worthy. You do not defend your argument, or worse, do not even think your argument is any better than your opponent’s.
    The difference (as I see it– (oops, that phrase indicates a lack of conviction, LOL))– is that with an open mind, you do intend to eventually form an opinion or decision about the topic. You are at the stage of considering different ideas about the topic. But if you lack conviction, you believe that you can never be right because you believe that truth is not knowable and that there is not necessarily a right or wrong.

    Reply

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