The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water

[eyrei]

'The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, & breeds reptiles of the mind.' - William Blake

I'm just curious what people think of this idea. Personally, I think Blake was essentially correct. I don't think any human to this time has ever held an opinion that was an absolute truth, and so if one nevers alters one's opinion, one is feeding a dogma that colors our perception of the world and further pursuit of 'truth'.

 

[stormbind]

I would have described it as home to thriving mosquito larvae and algea growth. It looks wrong, and will return to sting you later.

 

[eyrei]

I would have described it as home to thriving mosquito larvae and algea growth. It looks wrong, and will return to sting you later.

I think the word 'reptiles' is intended to imply outdated ideas, not necessarily disgusting ones, though it is hard to tell with Blake.

 

[Yoda Power]

I agree very much. Situations can change over time and peoples oppinions should change with them.

 

[Pangur Bán]

I always change my mind, even if I don't always publicly admit it.

 

[~Corsair#01~]

Few people ever do change your opinion. People are stubborn, which is what makes debate possible. It is also why no side in a debate ever manages to change the minds of the other. If people changed their opinion, every debate would end with the right side winning. What in practice happens is that the debate goes on forever, and is abandoned before it is finished.

 

[eyrei]

Few people ever do change your opinion. People are stubborn, which is what makes debate possible. It is also why no side in a debate ever manages to change the minds of the other. If people changed their opinion, every debate would end with the right side winning. What in practice happens is that the debate goes on forever, and is abandoned before it is finished.

Well, if you add that premise to Blake's idea, then most people believe in outdated ideas, which is kind of what I was getting at.

To quote Blake again: 'Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd.' Which, when put with the original quote, comes to the same conclusion as what you posted, except that part about understanding. Is our pursuit of truth hindered by our inability to communicate ideas effectively to one another, rather than by stubbornness?

 

[Hotpoint]

If we're doing quotes I like John Maynard Keynes take on this subject:

“When the facts change, I change my mind – what do you do, sir?”

 

[eyrei]

If we're doing quotes I like John Maynard Keynes take on this subject:

I'm trying very hard not to make a comment about...hehe...I'll resist...for now.

Lets just say I can picture a caricature of a certain political figure saying in response to that "I change the facts. "

Anyway, we aren't doing quotes. I was using them to introduce an idea, that is all.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Changing your mind is a good thing.

But of course it makes you a flip-flopper.

 

[HamaticBabylon]

Hay first try and get your western politicians to stop lieing about Iraqi WMD's and I will stop trying to crush the Pagans!

 

[Pointlessness]

'The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, & breeds reptiles of the mind.' - William Blake

What is wrong with standing water and reptiles?

Whether to alter one's opinion is a situational matter. There is a time to change your mind, and there is a time to hold your ground. It all depends on the circumstances.

 

[Moss]

As you grow you *usually* become more enlightened and gain new experiences. Most people take what they know into account when they make decisions. So yes...it is only natural ot change your mind through the course of time.

However, as Pointlessness said, there are sometimes when you need to also not sway in your beliefs or decisions.

 

[eyrei]

Either of you care to give an example?

 

[Rhymes]

Few people ever do change your opinion. People are stubborn, which is what makes debate possible. It is also why no side in a debate ever manages to change the minds of the other. If people changed their opinion, every debate would end with the right side winning. What in practice happens is that the debate goes on forever, and is abandoned before it is finished.

I disagree, debates aren't meant to determinate who's right, their meant, imo, to bring people to question what they believe. Often, people will change idea after hearing other opinions, maybe not on the moment, but after stepping back from the debate and through a period of self-questionning, etc.
No ne knows everything, and everyone has something to gain by hearing other ways of thinking, other opinions. Its true, though, that on the moment its almost impossible to make people change opinion, probably a question of pride rather than being stuborn.

I believe that always keeping questionning myself is what makes me evolve as a human and what makes me become a better person in a continuous process.

Stuborn people who never change opinion are, I think, the only kind of people I really despise. Ex: Radicals, extremists, extreme rightists and leftists, terrorists, etc. (I could put Bush on that list but I'de probably get warned for trolling )

 

[Cuivienen]

What is wrong with standing water and reptiles?

Whether to alter one's opinion is a situational matter. There is a time to change your mind, and there is a time to hold your ground. It all depends on the circumstances.

But the quote doesn't tell you to constantly change your stance, just that you should occasionally change some of your stances. Someone who denies the facts because they do not support his or her stance is a fool.

 

[King Alexander]

'The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, & breeds reptiles of the mind.' - William Blake

* Introduction: For reasons of understanding, this phrase doesn't mean that one must absolutely change his opinion, because it'd just be "bad" for him to continue having it. -

We're talking of a conscious and free act that comes absolutely naturally through mature and life experiences(like hearing various opinions, grow in poverty or been born rich, knowing the happyness of a good relationship as well as knowing the disappointment when that relationship breaks, etc...). Well, back on topic...

Personally, I think Blake was essentially correct. I don't think any human to this time has ever held an opinion that was an absolute truth, and so if one nevers alters one's opinion, one is feeding a dogma that colors our perception of the world and further pursuit of 'truth'.

I agree with you, eyrei, but somehow, I have a feeling that I need to clarify your statements furthermore(to see if I understood correctly), because different languages have various and many "hidden" meanings behind them.

"I don't think any human to this time has ever held an opinion that was an absolute truth,": May I ask if the "absolute truth" refers to things that I explained in my introduction, or if the "absolute truth" suggests that "past" truths/opinions are outdated because humans didn't had the same technology as we have today?

If it's the later, I could say that many "truths" are still valid, and other "truths" are outdated, IMHO.

Well, if you add that premise to Blake's idea, then most people believe in outdated ideas, which is kind of what I was getting at.

Oops, sorry! I hadn't read further!

To quote Blake again: 'Truth can never be told so as to be understood, and not be believ'd.'
Is our pursuit of truth hindered by our inability to communicate ideas effectively to one another, rather than by stubbornness?

Of course it is, but it depends if and how much one is willing to "communicate" with another person, meaning that one can't only speak, but hear as well, and have a critical(= be "open" and as "neutral" as you can) thinking.

 

[Longasc]

People are too lazy to think. Free quoted gist of a saying by Immanuel Kant.

Thinking of new ideas is not easy, it is hard... fear also plays a major role.

If you stay with your old ideas, you get a bit a "conservative" touch.


Unfortunately: If you change your mind, recognize mistakes, correct your views -> you are a flip-flop???

I say: Who does not change his mind does not think that much, and I require of important persons that they at least THINK more than twice about what they are doing.

It shows a lack of greatness, the lack of the greatness to say "I was wrong", and the inability to correct one's views.

edit: sorry, my english is really awful today... i just corrected several mistakes, i hope you still got it.

 

[eyrei]

The absolute truths I referred to are those that cannot be 'proven', but have encompassed much of the energy of philosophical people throughout history. For example, the existence of god, whether warfare can be justified, what is art, what the best economic or political system is, etc. These often manifest in more precise disagreements such as whether abortion should be legal, use of the death penalty, tax systems, what should be taught in schools...just to give some examples from the USA. It is fairly obvious that changing anyone's mind on these issues is nearly impossible, and I am trying to figure out why.

 

[King Alexander]

@eyrei: I understood what you said before.

Thing is that, if one can't "communicate" enough, then a careful usage of speech/words should be used(carefull selection of the words, but with a "deep" meaning and not reffering "directly" to "taboo"-words), so another person won't be biased before he hears the arguements.

I do what I said above when one is willing to "communicate", and sometimes I speak directly because I can't see any "communication" after hard efforts.

btw: the examples you gave have been discussed enough(and are still been discussed) all over the world[I wanted to clarify that so some could "communicate" more ]