Q&A: Is There a Limit to Critical Thinking
Is There a Limit to Critical Thinking
Question
Is it right to avoid hearing an opinion that I currently think cannot possibly be correct, because if I hear it I might end up agreeing with it and moving over to its side, or at least treating it as just another opinion? For example, Hitler's book, or books by people who are clearly immoral.
Answer
It is not right to avoid hearing any opinion whatsoever. A person should form a position by weighing the full range of considerations and arguments.
Discussion on Answer
As I said, even if it sounds strange to you, it's worth listening. 🙂
You definitely should hear everything.
Even an ordinary person should listen to all opinions and make decisions to the best of his understanding. Experts can make mistakes, and they can also lie. And if there are claims that the experts are mistaken or lying for whatever reasons, it is certainly worth listening. If you come to the conclusion that these are just baseless conspiracy theories, then reject them. But handing your fate over to experts is a big mistake. Especially since in quite a few areas (the question was about morality, Hitler) there are no experts.
That sounds strange,
is a person really obligated to hear every opinion in the world?
You can imagine a simple person who doesn't understand field X; then someone comes along who is considered opposed to field X and might persuade him.
Let's say X is the vaccine industry. The reasonable thing to do would seem to be to form a position through the professionals.