My reaction to what I just read is that open-mindedness is a subjective meaning to people

according their perception and view based on my understanding of discussed in class. There are
different of perception on open-mindedness between Hare, Gardner and Alders view from the
article of Open-Mindedness And Intellectual Humility by author, James S. Spiegel. In this article,
author have explained also about inert information, activated ignorance and activated knowledge
to describe and related on open-mindedness. Reading this article make me thinking how my
knowledge is so lack and wrong. Therefore, reading this article may make my knowledge
increase, right and also being critical thinking person I think.
This article may help me to understand what truly about inert information, activated
ignorance and activated knowledge. All of these terms are important to understand before we
describe more about open-mindedness. Before this, I have expects inert information as true
information which is I can fully believe and moreover also share to someone. It seems that I just
accept information that I think is true. My bad is I really do not know that is inert information
because lack of knowledge.
I realize that inert information mean taking into the mind information that, though
memorized, I do not understand despite the fact that I we do. For example, many people have
taken in during their school, a lot of information about democracy that leads them to believe they
understand the concept. Often, a good part of the information they have internalized consists of
empty verbal rituals. For example, many children learn in school that democracy is government
of the people, by the people and for the people. This catchy phrase often sticks in their mint. It
leads them to think they understands what it mean though most of them do no translate it into
practical criteria for assessing the extent to which democracy does or does not exist in any given
country.
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For another examples, government tell Good and Service Tax (GST) is a good tax in
context of economy benefit and country finance which is that will return back to citizen in many
ways like provision of school, hospital and road infrastructure but actually it is a burden tax to
low income family. According to Gardner believes Hares view has an inimical effect on the
educational enterprise, particularly in its apparent undermining of the concept of truth because
we can see the cheat which played by government. Gardner worries that training citizen to be
open-minded will discourage them from developing strong convictions concerning issues about
which firm beliefs are important. What I can learn in that article is related perception view on
open mindedness. A good quote is we must to seriously reconsider ours views again with do
some research or epistemology.
In term of Activated ignorance, my understand is about information that is false but
though mistakenly think it to be true. Some people believe through activated ignorance, that they
understand things, events, people and situations that they do not. They act upon their false ideas,
illusions and misconceptions often leading to needless waste, pain and suffering. In addition,
according to Gardner, specifically that the open-minded person will not be properly discerning
regarding alternative views on issues and might we not encourage the idea that all views are
worthy of being seriously entertained.
Sometimes activated ignorance is the basics for massive actions involving millions of
people and sometimes it is an individual misconception that is acted on only by one person in
limited number of settings. Wherever activated ignorance exists, it is dangerous. For example,
consider automobile drivers who are confident they can drive safely while there are intoxicated.
Therefore, activated ignorance person should be transmission of knowledge, and human

flourishing generally according to Hare.

Activated knowledge is information that is not only true but that, when insightfully
understood, leads us by implication to more and more knowledge. For example, scientists have
activated knowledge of the scientific method. They use hypothesis, observation or prediction
method to acquire more and more knowledge. The method is powerful, enforces discipline on
human thinking and provides safeguard against misuse. This terms give advantages and benefits
of being open-minded. Hare advise the quest for truth and understanding requires openmindedness. The failure to be open-minded prevents the acquisition of knowledge; the closedminded person can never learn.
The basic principles of critical thinking represent activated knowledge of part of thinking,
standard by which thinking can be assessed and ways in which thinking can be improved. These
principles can be applied again and again with the consequence that we discover further
knowledge on the basic of our present and disciplined thought about new information. Therefore,
someone should be activated knowledge for their kind.
In conclusion, this article very meaningful to someone who want to learn about openmindedness. The scholars of view on open-mindedness can give great insight and generate new
ideas to be besides distinguishing between inert information, activated ignorance and activated
knowledge. The author of this article have wise explains the differences and criticisms from
scholars with organized and easy to learn and understand. For me, this article can enhance my
knowledge and the method we thinking of something.