Francisco Miraval
What’s the similarity between the mind and a parachute? The obvious answer (as it has been repeated so many times) is that both the mind and the parachute only work when they are open. A closed mind is as useless as a closed parachute. But what would happen if the mind or the parachute opens too much? Then, they won’t work properly.
All comparisons aside, in 1987, in his book The Closing of the American Mind, American philosopher Allan Bloom (1930-1992) explained that the mindset many universities present as “open” leads paradoxically to the closing of the mind, because it erodes (and, I add, practically eliminates) all development of critical thinking skills.
One of the unavoidable consequences of the closing of the minds (even when it is said they remain open) is the impossibility of dialogue, because everything is now reduce to repeat what has been already said, to avoid any controversial topic (including religion, politics, and sports), and to talk only about superficial, ephemeral things.
For a close mind, even the enumeration of potential topics to be discusses is offensive because it reveals the insensitivity, disrespect, and lack of understanding of whoever proposes such a list towards those who may have a different or dissimilar opinion (as if a closed mind could develop its own opinions.)
In these columns, we always want to generate a dialogue among different points of view. But, as Bloom already taught us, that dialogue is becoming increasingly difficult and almost irrelevant. So, instead of talking about the usual topics we address in this column, this time I will talk about absolutely irrelevant things.
Last week, I ate Argentinean empanadas for lunch and the next day I ate Japanese-style sushi for dinner. And the day after that, I ate a Russian salad. I read some Biblical texts and then I read Buddhist texts and later Marxist texts. Everything was good, but I like the empanadas and the Buddhist meditations the most.
I also met with a Mexican artist who creates paper sculptures. He explained how and why he does what he does and the meaning he finds in his creations. Later, I spoke with a psychologist who focuses on helping those who help others. She explained to me how and why she does what she does and why helpers need help themselves.
Before those meetings, I knew almost nothing about Mexican cartoneria or about compassion fatigue among providers of services for people in need.
One hot day, I went to a public swimming pool and I read a book about some good reasons to become an atheist. Later, back at home, I read another book about the scientific approach to a spiritual universe. And I also went to a local art museum to see Asian lacquer creations.
I am beginning to realize that, in my eagerness to keep an open mind, I am attempting so many contradictory things that, like an useless parachute, my mind is so open it can no longer prevent my fall.