Intellectual Pluralism

When it comes to a discussion on any subject under the planet, which has mixed views and opinions, we can take any of the 3 different positions. It could be “for”, “against” or “neutral”, which can be classified as supporter, protester, and observer. 

Most often we fall into one of the first 2 categories. We either support something or protest something. Let’s say a new change is implemented by the Government, people who benefit from it, will see it as a welcome change, whereas the people who will be affected by it, will be aggravated, and agitated. The people who are neither benefited nor affected will just be silent observers.

So, is the case with the advent of new technology, a new emerging social norm, or anything that challenges the status quo?

However, people are not comfortable when their views or opinions are challenged. They tend to fight back. I believe Arguments as such are not bad, as long as it turns out to be a healthy debate.  A healthy debate is good for an intelligent mind. It opens many perspectives. There is a thin line of difference between a healthy debate and an argument.  In a healthy debate, our intention is to find the truth (what is right?), whereas in an argument our focus is to prove that we are right (who is right?). In an argument, there is an element of ego involved, which makes people take things personally. In other words, when someone challenges our opinion, we take it as a challenge to ourselves and not just see that only our opinion was challenged. Whereas, in a healthy debate, we are open-minded and have the courtesy to accept and appreciate the good points, that are told by the opponent.

What I find worrisome, is people taking extreme positions, especially social media today is cursed with polarised views, that it is difficult for one to gain the right understanding of what is really happening. Similarly, in many social forums, there are polarised views. They either enthusiastically support something or vehemently oppose something, without being open to knowing the other person’s point of view. This leads to polarisation.

Polarisation in turn breeds enmity, revenge, and demeaning acts of proving each other, which disturbs peaceful co-existence.

While debate is good, we must ensure that it doesn’t disturb the social fabric of love that knits all human being together. When we support something, we will always find more points to support our views and less points against it. This is called “Confirmation bias”. But when we are open to listening to what others have got to say, we may find new perspectives.

In an argument, we have to first and foremost come to terms that, just like us, everyone has the right to their own opinion. So, we can’t condemn someone just because they think or believe differently.

It is OK for us to support a political party or the actions taken by the government, but we should also be open to hearing other’s opinions. To see things only from our viewpoint, without carefully considering the data and information offered by others, is what is called ‘blindly arguing’.

What is needed today is “Open-mindedness.” Intellectual Pluralism can thrive only where there is open-mindedness.  Unipolar views are not good, for any organization or country. There is a quote, “If two people think alike there is no need for one of them.” So, having unipolar views or being surrounded by people who always agree with you, don’t really add value to us. Intelligence is not about our ability to prove someone wrong, but our ability to expand our perspectives based on discussion or even arguments.

Not all debate ends with a convincing answer.  At the end of the debate, we don’t have to come to a consensus. There can be some missing links. We may want to buy more time to, read more, or do more research based on the new information and validate for ourselves, whether what someone said was right or wrong or come up with counter arguments based on our findings.

Being open-minded is being able to discuss any issue, without being offensive or getting defensive. Intellectual Pluralism is a mark of a matured mind set.

 D. Senthil Kannan,

 CEO, PALMS Training & Consulting (P) Ltd., Tuticorin.

 Author of "Transformational Thoughts" - A Journey of learning 

 Email: senthilkannand@gmail.com