“The phenomena of closed and open-mindedness are at the heart of the interface between cognitive and social processes. Every intelligible judgment, decision, or action rests on a subjective knowledge base held with at least a minimal degree of confidence” (Kruglanski, 2004). How come it is that there are people who seem to make continuous progression in their personal and professional lives, while other people are cursed to repeat their same mistakes continuously? While the feedback is not cut and dry, there is a very interesting mind-set difference between two groups: these two groups approach challenges and difficulties very distinctively. The one group goes through life with an open mind. And the second group digs their heels in at the first …show more content…
Lastly a conclusion will be made to convey that open-mindedness is more beneficial than closed-mindedness.
Open-minds
When an individual has an open mind, they are seen to have the eagerness to experience new things, hear and acknowledge new ideas. Open-mindedness is one of the crucial desire of education, always puzzling but remarkably worth chasing (Dewey and Russell, as cited in, Hare, 2004). When it comes to having an open-minded, it is the virtue that avoids habit and eagerness from making individuals inadequate or afraid to entertain the idea that earlier convictions may have to be adjusted or let go of; its main point lies in battling the intolerance that comes from a belief that people’s viewpoints are certainly certain (Russell, as cited in, Hare, 2004). An open mind allows for a person to be open to being a critical thinker. A critical thinker is an individual who has the capacity to creatively think (being aware of new viewpoints and possibilities); the capacity to be analytical (inspect something in depth in order to evaluate what it is made of); the capacity to reason (to think in a logical and intricate way) and the capacity to be a problem solver (systematically taking in to mind possible solutions to an issue and selecting the best one) as said by (Wallace, Schirato & Bright, 1999). Critical thinking is a mental growth that pursues to analyse as well as examine the activity and action that an individual comes across to in life (Tsai,
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Closed-mindedness phenomenality effect on what people consider to other people as well as how people consider, in terms of the origins of knowledge people take into consideration when formulating their own assumptions (Kruglanski, 2004). Closed-minded individuals do not seek their ideas challenged. They are commonly discontented that they cannot get another individual to admit with them instead of being inquisitive to as to why the other individual is disagreeing. Closed-minded people are more keen on justifying themselves right than in acquiring the best result. These individuals don’t ask questions. These individuals want to convey to another where they are wrong without comprehending where they are coming from. They get annoyed when they are asked to explain something. Closed-minded people have the mentality that people who inquire about things are hindering them down. Closed-minded individuals say things such as “I could be incorrect…… but here is my take on things.” This often seen as a superficial action that allows individuals to grip onto their own assumptions while persuading themselves that they are being
Colombo also asks in his article “Thinking Critical, Challenging Cultural Myths” “What do instructors mean when they tell you to think critically?” (Colombo, p. 2). In this paragraph Colombo is wanted to let the student know that the college instructors are going to let the student use her own mind and think outside the box. That being “a critical thinker cultivates the ability to imagine and see the different value points of her own- Then strengthens, refines, enlarges, or reshapes her ideas in light of those other perspectives” (Colombo, p. 2). Colombo also states that being “a critical thinker is an active learner, someone with the ability to shape, not merely absorb, knowledge” (Colombo, p. 2).
Therefore the assertion of the right reasons view, with respect to the third person perspective, and the validation of your belief from that same one third party makes a more compelling argument for keeping confidence in one's beliefs upon a disagreement.
Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing written by; Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle, Eighth Edition, published April, 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin’s, is a textbook about writing and critical thinking. In the first chapter of Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing, “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths”, the Authors begin by setting a relatable scene of what it’s like for a college student. How a new found independence can be overwhelming, especially with regards to critical thinking, showing that what we have learned, needs to be re-evaluated and that an open mind in essential. "What Is Critical Thinking" In this section of the chapter the editors explain what it means to be a critical thinker. They explain that critical thinking is not just studying dates and facts, but rather taking those facts and examining them. The editors then proceed by explaining how having an open mind, and taking others' perspectives into account when formulating our own opinions on what the author is trying to say to us is important. A critical thinker takes all aspects into account and reflects on personal experience as well. The editors also point out that different cultural experiences bring different opinions. They suggest that we need to become active learners, continuously questioning the meaning behind everything, testing not only the theories of others but also our own experiences and analyzing the text rather than going for the obvious. They show that thinking outside the box is the epitome of critical thinking. Basically, we need to step outside our comfort zones and what we have always been taught. The editors also suggest that we need to re-evaluate our per...
The author Vincent Ruggiero defines critical thinking in his book Beyond Feelings: A Guide to Critical Thinking, as a “search for answers, a quest.” It is the idea that one does not accept claims, ideas, and arguments blindly, but questions and researches these things before making a decision on them. From what I learned in class, critical thinking is the concept of accepting that there are other people and cultures in this world that may have different opinions. It is being able to react rationally to these different opinions.
According to me, the claim that shared knowledge is better than personal knowledge does hold true for majority of the time because no matter how smart one person is, a group of people would always have more knowledge to contribute than one person would. Since shared knowledge is possessed by many peopl...
Critical thinking provides an opportunity to explore the positive and negative sides of an argument for and against an idea, theory or notion. Reasoning and perception is attuned to personal impression and provides outcome to belief and opinion.
The liberal arts are becoming increasingly rare in schools and universities. However, Saint Catherine University makes it a priority to teach its students the core benefits to the liberal arts college. It requires students to take the course “The Reflective Woman” along with “Global Search for Justice” as an introduction and conclusion to a liberal arts education. Throughout this semester I became more knowledgeable on what the liberal arts truly are, honed my reflective judgment, developed my writing skills, and I now have a deeper and defined sense of self.
Questions are something that must be asked and can be very important when reading a literary work, watching a movie, or just simply trying to understand the habits of people today. Asking questions opens up the human brain to dig farther and deeper into the meaning of why someone did something in a specific way and what purpose it has that something must be done in that way. Critical thinking is asking question and trying to hypothesize on what the answer to that question might be. Critically thinking is a healthy aspect of opening up the brain and will improve one’s thought process on how to apply critical thinking in situations where it is dependent, like a future
Critical thinking is the process in which one challenges their emotive, self-centered way of thinking. It causes one to test their own assumptions and question their reasoning. Critical thinking is the process in which one mentally explores deeper than the superficial matters at hand into the deeper layers in order to find out what the real issues are. Successful critical thinking is a process that allows one to creatively problem solve, seek innovative solutions, and essentially "think outside of the box." It also allows one to become more open minded to various situations. Logic and perception both play a role in critical thinking. However, when it comes to weighing their beneficial impact on the critical thinking process, logic and perception are by no means equal. While logic is firmly rooted in reason, perceptions are just as firmly rooted in one's senses, and can easily be corrupted. Therefore, perception is certainly not reality. This is a lesson that I had the opportunity to have reinforced in a recent in-house promotion at work.
Critical thinking means accurate thinking in the search of appropriate and dependable knowledge about the world. Another way to describe it is sensible, insightful, responsible, and skillful thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do. Critical thinking is not being able to process information well enough to know to stop for red lights or whether you established the right change at the supermarket.
Critical thinking is the careful scrutiny of what is stated as true or what appears to be true and the resulting expression of an opinion or conclusion based on that scrutiny, and (2) the creative formulation of an opinion or conclusion when presented with a question, problem or issue, (Kist-Ashman, 2011, p. 33).
What is not easily recognized is the fact that the very fabric of life is dependent on the ability to think properly and make good decisions. Improper thinking is costly in the quality of life and monetarily. The result of a critical thinker that has worked to cultivate proper thinking skills includes: the ability to ask vital questions and to identify problems with clarity. A critical thinker also collects relevant information while effectively interpreting it, thinks with an open mind, uses alternative systems of thought, and understands how to communicate while working to formulate a strong solution. In summary, critical thinking is self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. Above all else, the standards of excellence are rigorous, and it entails the prospect of overcoming the challenge of sociocentrism and
One of the most notorious saying we grow up to know and embody is one that concerns are greatest possession, are family. “Family comes first no matter what, because at the end of the day they are the ones who are always there”. To most this is means to do anything possible to provide and protect our loved ones. If thrown into a situation, could you practice what you preach?! Society has guided us to believe that stealing is wrong but when placed in the footsteps, could one think differently. For every situation moral theories is used as to explain rather an action was right or wrong. It is depicted as being wrong in society but society never thinks about the normal people and their life. Society believes stealing bread to feed a starving family is wrong and immoral, as they look at as the concept of stealing, not the bigger picture. Normal people see it as a means of supporting as they are the ones in the footsteps being walked. For this reason stealing bread to feed your starving family is moral.
According to The Foundation for Critical Thinking (2007), "Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of their use. It entails effective communication and problem solving abilities and a commitment to overcome our native egocentrism (Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2007).
Epistemology is the branch of philosophy concerned with the theory of knowledge. Epistemology studies the nature of knowledge, justification, and the rationality of belief. Much of the debate in epistemology centers on four areas: the philosophical analysis of the nature of knowledge and how it relates to such concepts as truth, belief, and justification, various problems of skepticism, the sources and scope of knowledge and justified belief, and the criteria for knowledge and justification. Epistemology addresses such questions as "What makes justified beliefs justified?", "What does it mean to say that we know something?" and fundamentally "How do we know that we know?"