You know that feeling when you change your mind, going from being inside one worldview to moving into another?
That sensation is fantastic for thinking in general; if you can fluidly move between "believing" and "not believing" two sides to a debate, it can help clarify a lot.
Conversation
Replying to
And I don't mean straw-man believing, like "I can imagine those people being idiots". I mean actually handling the issue with the sensation of being inside it, like it's yours, like it *makes sense* to see it from your point of view. A little part of you has to actually buy in.
14
2
108
Replying to
I prefer being suspended rather, and just being aware that I have a certain inclination towards something as opposed to the other.
Sometimes though, my desperation gets the better of me and I can end up asserting things without much solidity behind em.
1
Replying to
I think what you said there also helps with empathy. If you're able to insert yourself into another person's world view despite having disagreements.
A big task of composure that, though.
And not shooting for the low hanging fruit.
1
Replying to
This reminded me of F. Scott Fitzgerald's observation that the test of a first-rate intellect is being able to hold two contradictory ideas at the same time.
7
Replying to
Only happened to me a few times in my life and it was never sudden. Usually takes years. But pretty great when it does happen. It's like being able to live many lives during one existence here on earth.
Replying to
To understand a person utterly, you must understand not just what they think
But also how they think.
2
Replying to
A method I like, similar to this one, is "Assume for a moment you are definitely wrong without realizing it. How could that be?"
4
Replying to
The reason why some people get lost in thought is that for them, it's unfamiliar territory.
