Many of us aren't nearly as independent-minded as we like to think. The views many of us hold are largely dictated by partisanship and ideological affiliations rather than intellectual rigor. This leads to an almost chronic unwillingness to revisit and refine long-held positions. Our thinking on matters of politics and philosophy and faith not only can become lazy; it can easily ossify. It may be worth asking yourself: in the last 15 to 20 years, on what issues of importance have you changed your mind, recalibrated your thinking, or even attempted to take a fresh look? Or has every event, serious study, and new set of facts merely confirmed what you already knew? To put it another way: Do you think you've ever been wrong?Peter Wehner in CommentaryMagazine.com [reprinted from "The Week" June 19, 2015; page 10]
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Being Independent Minded
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Here is a link to a Washington Post book review:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/book-review-how-not-to-be-wrong-the-power-of-mathematical-thinking-by-jordan-ellenberg/2014/06/13/40527e94-d9f5-11e3-b745-87d39690c5c0_story.html
Looks like a good read but I could be wrong being merely a subjective snap impression. :-)
DTI
On 6/27/15 5:25 PM, TB wrote:
I used to work with a guy who we gave the rather long nickname, 'frequently wrong, but never in doubt'.
As I get older I find myself ' frequently in doubt, and often wrong'.
Here is a book worthy of consideration. Nashville Library has it.
How Not to be Wrong , The Power of Mathematical Thinking by Jordan Ellenberg's
Subject: When you absolutely, positively know you are right.
ReplyDeleteNot to be outdone by DTI's long tome, here is another astute observation of the human condition. The more ignorant of a topic you are, the more sure you are of your opinions.
http://www.psmag.com/navigation/health-and-behavior/confident-idiots-92793/
BD