Tolstoy on Freethinking

[Pah]

Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking; where it is absent, discussion is apt to become worse than useless.
- Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace (1862)

Is that a good definition of freethinking?

Bob

 

[Scuba Pete]

You know... I had to translate a couple of chapters of this book for college. I just could never get my mind wrapped around it to continue it. Maybe 2005 will be the year for me to read it... but in English this time!!

 

[Sunstone]

Freethinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking; where it is absent, discussion is apt to become worse than useless.
- Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace (1862)

Is that a good definition of freethinking?

Bob

That's about the best definition of freethinking that I've heard, Pah. Frubals to you for finding it!

I think the clincher is the point Tolstoy makes that absent freethinking, discussion is apt to become worse than useless. Perhaps we can see that point illustrated in some to the evolution/creationism threads?

 

[Fluffy]

I think its a great definition for the ideal of freethinking. However, I think that "not common" should be changed to "never seen completly".

 

[Sunstone]

I think its a great definition for the ideal of freethinking. However, I think that "not common" should be changed to "never seen completly".

I'll go along with that, Fluffy. I think it is virtually impossible to rid ourselves of all the cultural biases that we absorb while growing up. Besides which, there seem to be innate, genetically based prejudices that are simply human nature. We have to learn to deal with those too.

 

[Fluffy]

I think my reasoning for changing the statement in that way came from an innate prejudice actually. Besides, it makes the statement as a whole more freethinking .

 

[Sunstone]

Besides, it makes the statement as a whole more freethinking .

Yes, I agree. Do you think that some great measure of intellectual humility is necessary for freethinking? And is that intellectual humility opposed in spirit to closed mindedness?