“It is a mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
— Often attributed to Aristotle (and close to the spirit of his Nicomachean Ethics)
Have you ever been in a discussion where the person you’re talking to completely refuses to engage with any idea that challenges their own? It can be frustrating, but today’s quote gives us the perfect concept to share with them: the difference between entertaining a thought and accepting it.
The Power of Contemplation
Let’s address the elephant in the room first: while this quote is often attributed to Aristotle, he didn’t say these exact words. However, if you look closely at his writings on ethics and reasoning, the sentiment is certainly there. And regardless of its origin, the idea itself is profoundly valuable, which is why we’re going with it!
Being able to entertain two different ideas at the same time is something we do every day. The fundamental concept here is simple: you can listen to an argument, think about it, and genuinely contemplate its merit, but nothing says you have to commit to it.
How Listening Helps Your Own Argument
By engaging with a differing viewpoint, you’re actually helping yourself become a better thinker and better understand your own stance.
When someone offers an idea you’ve never considered, it forces you to process new information. This new knowledge helps you either assimilate the thought or rethink what you believed to begin with. This is the heart of civil discourse, and it’s a wonderful thing! If you use this exchange to refine or even change your argument, you’ve learned something valuable. That is a good thing.
When Communication Shuts Down
Unfortunately, it can be incredibly frustrating when you try to engage in this kind of open debate, and the other person simply refuses to reason with what you’re saying. This kind of refusal is a complete shutdown of communication. It doesn’t allow for proper debate and effectively ends civil discourse.
Furthermore, a common tactic of someone unwilling to entertain an idea is the use of ad hominem attacks. When they realize they don’t have a good counter-argument, they often start attacking you personally. This is just an attempt to discredit anything you have to say by discrediting the speaker, rather than tackling the argument itself. Don’t fall for it.
The Takeaway
So, the next time you are listening to someone present an argument that doesn’t appeal to you or that you just don’t agree with, remember this advice:
- Listen Quietly: Don’t interrupt.
- Listen Intently: Try your best to understand their core premise.
- Bolster Your Own Thought: If their idea doesn’t change your viewpoint, at least you’ve taken the opportunity to test and strengthen your own argument against a challenge.
In closing, I hope this helps you approach your next difficult discussion with a little more patience and curiosity. Now it’s your turn to make a difference: go out there and light up a mind!