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| Be Open-Minded |
Be Open-Minded
Another valuable approach to clear thinking is to make systematic efforts to remain open-minded. It is difficult to think clearly about an issue if you have already made up your mind what you are going to do regarding that issue.
When you are making an effort to be open-minded you tend to:
1. Review all the available evidence before making a decision.
2. Evaluate all evidence according to its merits.
3. Modify your conclusions and practices based on new and/or more accurate information.
4. Try to account for your own goals and prejudices and how they may affect your judgement.
The efforts of jury members in a criminal trial are systematically directed towards an open-minded approach. At the beginning of a trial, the judge reminds jurors to evaluate all the evidence before beginning any deliberations. Jurors know that the prosecuting attorney will bias evidence to support a conviction, and the defence attorney will bias evidence to support an acquittal. After all the evidence has been presented and deliberations have begun, jurors are expected to review all the evidence and to listen to each other’s thoughts and questions before reaching any verdict. When the deliberation process works properly, it provides an excellent example of clear thinking.
Another approach to open-mindedness involves seeking a broader perspective before
making any decisions based on the immediate facts. Before you decide to eat that delicious looking dessert you may want to step back to review your nutritional requirements for the day. Taking a broader view may also involve looking at a longer time scale, considering other similar cases, or testing possible alternate action plans.
Another valuable approach to clear thinking is to make systematic efforts to remain open-minded. It is difficult to think clearly about an issue if you have already made up your mind what you are going to do regarding that issue.
When you are making an effort to be open-minded you tend to:
1. Review all the available evidence before making a decision.
2. Evaluate all evidence according to its merits.
3. Modify your conclusions and practices based on new and/or more accurate information.
4. Try to account for your own goals and prejudices and how they may affect your judgement.
The efforts of jury members in a criminal trial are systematically directed towards an open-minded approach. At the beginning of a trial, the judge reminds jurors to evaluate all the evidence before beginning any deliberations. Jurors know that the prosecuting attorney will bias evidence to support a conviction, and the defence attorney will bias evidence to support an acquittal. After all the evidence has been presented and deliberations have begun, jurors are expected to review all the evidence and to listen to each other’s thoughts and questions before reaching any verdict. When the deliberation process works properly, it provides an excellent example of clear thinking.
Another approach to open-mindedness involves seeking a broader perspective before
making any decisions based on the immediate facts. Before you decide to eat that delicious looking dessert you may want to step back to review your nutritional requirements for the day. Taking a broader view may also involve looking at a longer time scale, considering other similar cases, or testing possible alternate action plans.
