There is a vital difference between a closed and an open mind. The rise in intra-state conflicts, armed violence and criminality are the extreme consequences of what I believe come down to “the disaster of the closed mind”- a micro-perspective on the causes of conflict.
The following article is an appeal to explore and go beyond the horizons of our intellectual landscapes. In order to truly be able to judge in given situations, we need facts from all sides and perspectives, and what is hindering us from achieving this is the obstacle of the closed mind.
We all like to think we are open-minded. And since the common definition of the mind is "the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences", open mindedness would simply imply being fully aware of our surroundings- on all levels, not only the physical. We have a brain that can analyze various possible explanations for any given situation. Having an open mind can help you consider all those possibilities. There has been a common thought amongst philosophers like Aristotle, Leibiz, Spinoza and Kant that we are here for a reason, intended or non-intended, within surroundings that are under the constant change of evolution. Many of us believe that we are on this planet of choice and free will to make a difference, but how can we possibly figure out a way to fulfillment of our true potential if we are closing our minds? If we think that the state we are in today is the highest possible state, we are very naïve. We can see progress, but in our lifetime this has appeared mostly in technology. What we want is revolutionary advancement in all areas of the human condition- arts, music, philosophy, politics etc., to bring about a sense of inter-scholarly harmony where all fields interrelate and connect, tied together by a common unity- the human being.
The mind to David Hume was "a bundle of perceptions tied together by a common unity", which also enclosed our identity. The mind to me is an instrument that provides us with a space for original thought and an opportunity to create. Now ask yourself- when was the last time you had a truly original thought? When was the last time you projected something new and refreshing into this world- either creative, academic or simply physical? Students especially are in the unique position of this power of creation, both due to our environment and current situation- the process of learning. Mary Kaldor, at the London School of Economics recently stated that "we are in need of a consciously informed public, available of critical thinking". This all sounds good, but it is also important to highlight what I believe to be the only obstacle in the way of this process- the closed mind. How can we work with this? What are the symptoms? Do we even want to have an open mind?
A professor of mine once said- "the human capacity to believe in nonsense is infinite". Are we free thinkers? No. Not as long as we place limitation on our intakes of "streams of consciousness". We have to allow our minds to take a needed break from mediocre preoccupations so they can discover new and inspiring insights. The mind has a capacity to be creative and influenced. It can receive inspiration outside the boundaries of its own control. We have to find the balance, similar to the Chinese middle way. Moderation. You have probably heard about yin and yang, the two concepts commonly portrayed as opposites, e.g day/night or good/evil, one cannot exist without the other. It takes an equal amount of both for a state of balance. Applying this to contemporary times, and considering all the inequality and injustice in the world, it is evident that this balance is under disturbance. Examples like violent conflicts, natural catastrophes, manipulative powers of the media and fatal consequences of institutions like politics, bureaucracy and capitalism are all outcomes of this- and WE have brought this upon ourselves. Many things have contributed to this phenomenon throughout time- closed-mindedness being the fundamental driving force. Ideas like those of for instance Hobbes and Machiavelli, who both witnessed the brutalities of civil war, saw no other solution than man being naturally evil, suspicious and greedy. These statements and conclusions are a result of the contexts under which the thinkers operated. It is a now a common assumption that if you live in a world of war, depression and insecurity where every day is a fight for survival, it is clear that your view of the world will consist of these negative concepts. I am not saying that we do not observe these influences today- we have conflict; we do fear for our security. But the privilege of living in a developed country comes with luxuries: for example, the luxury of options. A small, but very powerful word- options. We live under relatively secure conditions, and are awarded with the unique privilege of having all the tools needed for thinking outside the box. How do we want to live? What is fair? Are there better solutions than those that are commonly presented today? Simply by opening your mind, you can contribute to better solutions. And the only way we can find these are through cooperation and creativity- slowly but steadily transformed into change. But it takes more than one person. This is the reason for the emergence of initiatives like Generation C, this is why I am urging you to open your mind. Be constructively critical. Question your daily intake of new information and process this, so you can contribute.
It is not an easy process. See your excellence of being as a part of a bigger machine that runs smoothly if all parts work together. By this, we are not suggesting that we should all think and act the same way, actually it is the total opposite; differences breed advancements in all areas of life. And the more ideas we put on the table the further we take mankind. Just because you don't believe in it, doesn't mean that you have to delete it from your database? The mind is like the internet, you should be able to locate any information you need at any time. Absorb everything. But be cautious of the importance you give to the different thoughts. Terry Pratchett stated; "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it". Be aware of how easily you are influenced by factors like insecurity, your environment and the media and still dare to adventure and be different- differences breed innovation. The way to an enlightened future should be to collect as many experiences as possible, and then to use these as a foundation for opinions, values and judgments. The wider our experience and tolerance, the better judges we become.
Consider it taking a breath of fresh air. Bursting through the surface of the water in which you have been swimming around in circles for way too long. You are not a fish. And that has made all the difference.
This article will be continued with a series of articles on existence. Upcoming topics are, among others, holistic approaches to international relations, reflections on our world views, a theory on souls, and thoughts on the future of humanity.
Caroline Hargreaves is an Editor and Photographer for the magazine. She will also be contributing regular articles. She is Norwegian and studies International Relations, Philosophy, Arabic and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
The following article is an appeal to explore and go beyond the horizons of our intellectual landscapes. In order to truly be able to judge in given situations, we need facts from all sides and perspectives, and what is hindering us from achieving this is the obstacle of the closed mind.
We all like to think we are open-minded. And since the common definition of the mind is "the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences", open mindedness would simply imply being fully aware of our surroundings- on all levels, not only the physical. We have a brain that can analyze various possible explanations for any given situation. Having an open mind can help you consider all those possibilities. There has been a common thought amongst philosophers like Aristotle, Leibiz, Spinoza and Kant that we are here for a reason, intended or non-intended, within surroundings that are under the constant change of evolution. Many of us believe that we are on this planet of choice and free will to make a difference, but how can we possibly figure out a way to fulfillment of our true potential if we are closing our minds? If we think that the state we are in today is the highest possible state, we are very naïve. We can see progress, but in our lifetime this has appeared mostly in technology. What we want is revolutionary advancement in all areas of the human condition- arts, music, philosophy, politics etc., to bring about a sense of inter-scholarly harmony where all fields interrelate and connect, tied together by a common unity- the human being.
The mind to David Hume was "a bundle of perceptions tied together by a common unity", which also enclosed our identity. The mind to me is an instrument that provides us with a space for original thought and an opportunity to create. Now ask yourself- when was the last time you had a truly original thought? When was the last time you projected something new and refreshing into this world- either creative, academic or simply physical? Students especially are in the unique position of this power of creation, both due to our environment and current situation- the process of learning. Mary Kaldor, at the London School of Economics recently stated that "we are in need of a consciously informed public, available of critical thinking". This all sounds good, but it is also important to highlight what I believe to be the only obstacle in the way of this process- the closed mind. How can we work with this? What are the symptoms? Do we even want to have an open mind?
A professor of mine once said- "the human capacity to believe in nonsense is infinite". Are we free thinkers? No. Not as long as we place limitation on our intakes of "streams of consciousness". We have to allow our minds to take a needed break from mediocre preoccupations so they can discover new and inspiring insights. The mind has a capacity to be creative and influenced. It can receive inspiration outside the boundaries of its own control. We have to find the balance, similar to the Chinese middle way. Moderation. You have probably heard about yin and yang, the two concepts commonly portrayed as opposites, e.g day/night or good/evil, one cannot exist without the other. It takes an equal amount of both for a state of balance. Applying this to contemporary times, and considering all the inequality and injustice in the world, it is evident that this balance is under disturbance. Examples like violent conflicts, natural catastrophes, manipulative powers of the media and fatal consequences of institutions like politics, bureaucracy and capitalism are all outcomes of this- and WE have brought this upon ourselves. Many things have contributed to this phenomenon throughout time- closed-mindedness being the fundamental driving force. Ideas like those of for instance Hobbes and Machiavelli, who both witnessed the brutalities of civil war, saw no other solution than man being naturally evil, suspicious and greedy. These statements and conclusions are a result of the contexts under which the thinkers operated. It is a now a common assumption that if you live in a world of war, depression and insecurity where every day is a fight for survival, it is clear that your view of the world will consist of these negative concepts. I am not saying that we do not observe these influences today- we have conflict; we do fear for our security. But the privilege of living in a developed country comes with luxuries: for example, the luxury of options. A small, but very powerful word- options. We live under relatively secure conditions, and are awarded with the unique privilege of having all the tools needed for thinking outside the box. How do we want to live? What is fair? Are there better solutions than those that are commonly presented today? Simply by opening your mind, you can contribute to better solutions. And the only way we can find these are through cooperation and creativity- slowly but steadily transformed into change. But it takes more than one person. This is the reason for the emergence of initiatives like Generation C, this is why I am urging you to open your mind. Be constructively critical. Question your daily intake of new information and process this, so you can contribute.
It is not an easy process. See your excellence of being as a part of a bigger machine that runs smoothly if all parts work together. By this, we are not suggesting that we should all think and act the same way, actually it is the total opposite; differences breed advancements in all areas of life. And the more ideas we put on the table the further we take mankind. Just because you don't believe in it, doesn't mean that you have to delete it from your database? The mind is like the internet, you should be able to locate any information you need at any time. Absorb everything. But be cautious of the importance you give to the different thoughts. Terry Pratchett stated; "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it". Be aware of how easily you are influenced by factors like insecurity, your environment and the media and still dare to adventure and be different- differences breed innovation. The way to an enlightened future should be to collect as many experiences as possible, and then to use these as a foundation for opinions, values and judgments. The wider our experience and tolerance, the better judges we become.
Consider it taking a breath of fresh air. Bursting through the surface of the water in which you have been swimming around in circles for way too long. You are not a fish. And that has made all the difference.
This article will be continued with a series of articles on existence. Upcoming topics are, among others, holistic approaches to international relations, reflections on our world views, a theory on souls, and thoughts on the future of humanity.
Caroline Hargreaves is an Editor and Photographer for the magazine. She will also be contributing regular articles. She is Norwegian and studies International Relations, Philosophy, Arabic and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
Source:www.generation-c.org
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