Kevin J. Browne: Philosopher | Educator | Composer
  • home
  • Educator
  • Consultant
  • Composer
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • bio

PHILOSOPHICAL INSIGHTS

What is a person who changes his mind?

6/27/2022

0 Comments

 
A2A on Quora:  ​What is a person who changes his mind?
Someone who is open to considering new information and evidence and altering their opinion based on that. In other words, a critical thinker.

Changing one’s mind has a bad reputation. We ridicule politicians as “flip-floppers” for doing this. We over-value the idea that one should stick to their beliefs regardless. I’ve had students tell me that there are certain opinions they will believe no matter what. Presumably, that includes evidence that clearly shows their opinion to be wrong.

An interesting perspective on this is offered by Adam Grant in his book Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, where he says:

“Who you are should be a question of what you value, not what you believe. Values are your core principles in life–they might be excellence and generosity, freedom and fairness, or security and integrity. Basing your identity on these kinds of principles enables you to remain open-minded about the best ways to advance them. You want the doctor whose identity is protecting health, the teacher whose identity is helping students learn, and the police chief whose identity is promoting safety and justice. When they define themselves by values rather than opinion, they buy themselves the flexibility to update their practices in light of new evidence.”
​

We should encourage people to update their views and practices in light of new evidence. If someone is not doing this, it means they are not learning anything new.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    KEVIN J. BROWNE

    Philosopher / Educator

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Beliefs
    Book Review
    Connections
    Critical Thinking
    Education
    Ethics
    Homeschooling
    Influence
    Learning
    Lifestyle
    Logic
    Motivation
    Philosophy
    Psychology
    Quora Question
    Quotations
    Reading
    Relevance
    Teaching
    Thinking

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Buy my sheet music at MusicaNeo
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Kevin Browne's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Kevin has read 12 books toward his goal of 63 books.
    hide
    12 of 63 (19%)
    view books
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • home
  • Educator
  • Consultant
  • Composer
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • bio