The article discusses the significance of open-mindedness in today's polarized environment, citing Kieran Setiya's insights from The Atlantic on book reviews involving Julian Barnes's work. It emphasizes the importance of shared information for a functioning democracy but expresses pessimism about public discourse. A relevant case study by Yale law professor Justin Driver examines Noliwe Rooks's new critique of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, demonstrating the evolving opinions on integration's real impact on Black students. The article encourages reflection on when to retain or modify one’s beliefs amid societal challenges and misinformation.
At a moment when just asking questions can feel synonymous with bad-faith arguments or conspiratorial thinking, one of the hardest things to hold on to might be an open mind.
Knowing about our tendency toward rationalization and confirmation bias, alongside the prevalence of misinformation, how do we know when, or whether, to change our minds?
Driver calls Rooks's new perspective on Brown v. Board of Education a case of intellectual flexibility that makes for a lively debate.
America's failure to accommodate Black children in predominantly white schools has led Rooks to conclude that integration has failed many Black children.
#open-mindedness #democracy #racial-integration #brown-v-board-of-education #intellectual-flexibility
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