Open-mindedness, Critical Thinking, and Indoctrination: Homage to William Hare

Abstract

William Hare has made fundamental contributions to philosophy of education. Among the most important of these contributions is his hugely important work on open-mindedness. In this paper I explore the several relationships that exist between Hare’s favored educational ideal (open-mindedness) and my own (critical thinking). I argue that while both are of central importance, it is the latter that is the more fundamental of the two.

Keywords:

• Open-mindedness,
• Critical thinking,
• Indoctrination,
• Evidential style of belief,
• William Hare