|
Openminded Scepticism An unwillingness to accept at face value and a readiness to question a claim where there is (or may seem to be) currently little or no reasonable basis for acceptance combined with, critically, a willingness to revise beliefs in light of new information.
Openmindedness in this sense then is a preparedness to change one’s mind based upon evidence – if quite substantial credible evidence accumulates which contradicts one’s beliefs, even and especially strongly-held beliefs, then those beliefs should be given up.
Openminded scepticism: constructive doubt.
This contrasts with other doubters, such as conspiracy theorists who, for example, disbelieve all responses that US government agencies have not captured nor hold any flying saucers or who remain militantly unconvinced when their assertions that the manned lunar landings did not happen are refuted. With such doubters the evidence seems to have value or use only in so far as it can be taken as supportive of their doubts.
(see also: critical thinking, counter-argument, quality of evidence, possibilities)
Back to: Glossary A-Z
Glossary of selected Judgement & Decision-making, Belief-related, and other Psychology terms A-Z »
Labels:
scepticism, skepticism, openminded scepticism, open-minded scepticism, openminded skepticism, open-minded skepticism, scepticism – openminded, skepticism – openminded, scepticism – open-minded, skepticism – open-minded, sceptic, skeptic, openminded, open-minded, openmindedness, open-mindedness |