One of the most important virtues, in a genuine search for truth, is open-mindedness. The Free Dictionary defines open-mindedness as, “Receptive to new and different ideas or the opinions of others.” Apart from this value, we will only listen to and learn from those who confirm our existing beliefs.
reason
Postmodern Doubt
Your friend wants to know: “I understand you have a basically trusting attitude towards knowing things. But this strikes me as naive. Don’t you watch The Daily Show? Have you been in a cave while the postmodern deconstructionists dismantled, piece by piece, the problems of modernity? Are you unaware of the personal and cultural biases which we all bring into this world? How can you sustain such a basic trust in coming to know things?”
Know True Beliefs
We all fear being wrong. Nobody likes to be embarrassed, hurt, or put down because they made an error. This is, to a large degree, a very sensible fear that often leads us to seek truth and avoid error.
On the other hand, if taken too seriously, such an attitude can cripple us. It is like insisting, “I’d hate to trip and fall while walking, so I’m only going to use a wheelchair to get around.” Now a wheelchair is a perfectly respectable means of transportation, but if you can walk, then you are limiting yourself more than is necessary.