Openmind

THE TRAIT OF OPEN-MINDEDNESS IS BEST UNDERSTOOD AS A DISPOSITION, RATHER THAN AN OCCURRENT STATE OF MIND. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT BELIEFS YOU ACTUALLY HAVE, BUT HOW OPEN YOU ARE TO REVISING THEM IN APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES. IT REQUIRES THE TRUE HUMILITY OF SELF-ACKNOWLEDGED FALLIBILITY. IT REQUIRES THAT OUR MINDS BE OPEN TO NEW EVIDENCE. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT FROM SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD BE EQUALLY ACCEPTING OF NONSENSE AS WE ARE OF SENSE. THAT'S NOT OPEN-MINDEDNESS; IT'S GULLIBILITY, OR PERHAPS STUPIDITY.