Do you believe in ghosts?

duga · 07-05-2013, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Critical thinkers tend to be very close minded because they rely too heavily on evidence. So of course they will always be skeptical. People that are more open minded are the creative types and those that are right minded.

I'm not saying I disagree with what you are saying because it is all sound and logical. It makes sense. I'm just adding a bit more to it and the reasoning why some people are just open minded and feel they have a spiritual connection to the world and tend to believe in ghosts before having sufficient evidence.

I actually feel critical thinkers can be more open minded at some points. At least a critical thinker will be willing to change their views if presented with said evidence. I can't say the same for a lot of very religious people.

As for ghosts, I think personal experience comes into play. I've had my own experiences and lean towards the hypothesis that something does exist, we just can't explain it right now (I did create this thread, after all). Plus, many issues in the world have no bearing on how I live my life so I think it's fun to lift the strenuous philosophy of a critical thinker and just have fun with the possibilities sometimes.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 07-05-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Critical thinkers tend to be very close minded because they rely too heavily on evidence. So of course they will always be skeptical. People that are more open minded are the creative types and those that are right minded.

I'm not saying I disagree with what you are saying because it is all sound and logical. It makes sense. I'm just adding a bit more to it and the reasoning why some people are just open minded and feel they have a spiritual connection to the world and tend to believe in ghosts before having sufficient evidence.

I'm definitely the open minded/creative type. I love to daydream and fantasise about things. That's why I keep a open mind to the possiblity of alien life visiting earth and ghosts. That does not mean I think it's real at this stage but if decent evidence was provided it would certainly make me excited.

djchameleon · 07-05-2013, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

I'm definitely the open minded/creative type. I love to daydream and fantasise about things. That's why I keep a open mind to the possiblity of alien life visiting earth and ghosts. That does not mean I think it's real at this stage but if decent evidence was provided it would certainly make me excited.

I'm the same way, I'm a bit skeptical but I slightly lean towards the side of wishing and hoping those things are real. I know they aren't though until sufficient evidence has been revealed especially if I see it with my own eyes.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 07-05-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I'm the same way, I'm a bit skeptical but I slightly lean towards the side of wishing and hoping those things are real. I know they aren't though until sufficient evidence has been revealed especially if I see it with my own eyes.

Yeah it's not a bad way to be actually. I think it would be awesome to see a ghost but I'd probably poop myself.

Neapolitan · 07-05-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

I can't say the same for a lot of very religious people.

Religious people change their mind too, it no big deal. I don't know why you want to paint a picture like they can't.

"Ghost" fall under the paranormal, which basically falls outside of mainstream science and religion.

duga · 07-06-2013, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

Religious people change their mind too, it no big deal. I don't know why you want to paint a picture like they can't.

"Ghost" fall under the paranormal, which basically falls outside of mainstream science and religion.

Relax, I was just using it to compare open vs close minded people, not specifically about ghosts. But very faithful people tend to be quite close minded. Just my experience.

The Batlord · 07-06-2013, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Critical thinkers tend to be very close minded because they rely too heavily on evidence.

Yeah, everyone, no matter who, has a confirmation bias, but for the person who demands evidence before believing at the very least they are less likely to accept erroneous beliefs. In other words, they may not believe in something that is true that just doesn't have enough evidence, but they at least have a baseline of belief that will likely be more based in reality.

Stephen · 07-06-2013, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

That's why I keep a open mind to the possiblity of alien life visiting earth

I believe there probably is some form of life somewhere out there but the likelihood of them or us being able to travel the vast distances required to visit mean we will probably never know.

Freebase Dali · 07-06-2013, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Critical thinkers tend to be very close minded because they rely too heavily on evidence. So of course they will always be skeptical. People that are more open minded are the creative types and those that are right minded.

I'm not saying I disagree with what you are saying because it is all sound and logical. It makes sense. I'm just adding a bit more to it and the reasoning why some people are just open minded and feel they have a spiritual connection to the world and tend to believe in ghosts before having sufficient evidence.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

I'm definitely the open minded/creative type. I love to daydream and fantasise about things. That's why I keep a open mind to the possiblity of alien life visiting earth and ghosts. That does not mean I think it's real at this stage but if decent evidence was provided it would certainly make me excited.

Why does everyone seem to partition critical thinkers into this rigid, non-movable box of pure logic and evidence? Critical thinkers simply approach arguments or claims in that way, because it's the most reasonable approach. And like Duga said, we are actually in the best position to be open minded simply because when the evidence mounts one way or the other for a claim, we will accept it. You can't say that for people that base their beliefs on something as immovable as personal conviction completely devoid of, and opposed to, evidence.

For instance, I don't believe in a sentient creator. However, if we find evidence for one, I will definitely believe in one. However, if we find proof that there ISN'T a god, I guarantee you that the majority of believers will disregard that evidence. Same thing for ghosts, or any other fantastical claim.

I would put it to you that those employing evidence-based approaches will be FAR more likely to change their beliefs than those with solely cultural or personal leanings. I would consider those people more closed minded.

I also think people are thinking of open mindedness as some sort of tag for people believing in fantastical things. That's a mischaracterization. Being open minded is being open to possibilities, not simply believing in the least-supported ones. which would be plain stupidity. As a critical thinker, I'm open to the possibility that ghosts exist, however I'm far more likely to believe that they don't until there is some compelling evidence to believe otherwise. And when there is, I will believe.

That's more than I can say for religious groups or hardcore fanatics of any flavor.
Being a critical thinker doesn't mean you just toil away non-creatively and joylessly at life, crunching the numbers of likelihood and spitting in the face of fantastical hope. I'm a very creative person in my pursuits, and I enjoy the same fantasies anyone else does. We are, after all, all humans. We have the same fears, desires, hopes and wonders. Critical thinkers simply employ a particular approach when it comes to validating a claim and resting a belief on it, and it most certainly doesn't only happen when there's a supernatural claim involved. It's a broad approach to answering questions. And for those questions we have no answers for, we're just as open as anyone else out there.

Astronomer · 07-06-2013, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Why does everyone seem to partition critical thinkers into this rigid, non-movable box of pure logic and evidence? Critical thinkers simply approach arguments or claims in that way, because it's the most reasonable approach. And like Duga said, we are actually in the best position to be open minded simply because when the evidence mounts one way or the other for a claim, we will accept it. You can't say that for people that base their beliefs on something as immovable as personal conviction completely devoid of, and opposed to, evidence.

For instance, I don't believe in a sentient creator. However, if we find evidence for one, I will definitely believe in one. However, if we find proof that there ISN'T a god, I guarantee you that the majority of believers will disregard that evidence. Same thing for ghosts, or any other fantastical claim.

I would put it to you that those employing evidence-based approaches will be FAR more likely to change their beliefs than those with solely cultural or personal leanings. I would consider those people more closed minded.

I also think people are thinking of open mindedness as some sort of tag for people believing in fantastical things. That's a mischaracterization. Being open minded is being open to possibilities, not simply believing in the least-supported ones. which would be plain stupidity. As a critical thinker, I'm open to the possibility that ghosts exist, however I'm far more likely to believe that they don't until there is some compelling evidence to believe otherwise. And when there is, I will believe.

That's more than I can say for religious groups or hardcore fanatics of any flavor.
Being a critical thinker doesn't mean you just toil away non-creatively and joylessly at life, crunching the numbers of likelihood and spitting in the face of fantastical hope. I'm a very creative person in my pursuits, and I enjoy the same fantasies anyone else does. We are, after all, all humans. We have the same fears, desires, hopes and wonders. Critical thinkers simply employ a particular approach when it comes to validating a claim and resting a belief on it, and it most certainly doesn't only happen when there's a supernatural claim involved. It's a broad approach to answering questions. And for those questions we have no answers for, we're just as open as anyone else out there.

I agree with Freebase, 'critical thinking' doesn't have to be boxed into one certain way of thinking. critical =/= logical. They are not synonymous. Critical thinking means exactly what it says - thinking critically about something, which doesn't always have to be taking a very scientific or logical approach...