Mind Expansion

Mind optimization

Thinkers, as we have seen, want to optimize their mind by filling it, to the extent possible, with true beliefs. Their mind-optimization program will have three components. The first is a mindcare regimen, in which they take care in deciding what information sources to expose themselves to. The second is a mindcleaning regimen, in which they find and eradicate the mistaken beliefs that slipped past their critical guard.

The final component is what I shall refer to as a mind-expansion regimen. It is a counterbalance to mindcare. By engaging in mindcare, we take care to avoid sources of what is likely to be misinformation. We might, for example, have nothing to do with an internet podcast that spews out conspiracy theories without offering any supporting evidence. In practicing mind expansion, by way of contrast, we actively seek new sources of information, sources that will expand our understanding of the world and allow us to see it from different perspectives.

You might, at this point, wonder whether mind-expansion will involve the use of mind-altering drugs like LSD or ayahuasca. It could, but needn’t; indeed, my own practice has been drug-free—with the exception of caffeine.

As part of your mind-expansion activities, you might investigate topics about which you have no opinion. You might, for example, learn more about economics so you can form a reasoned opinion about the wisdom of imposing tariffs, or learn more about atmospheric science so you can form a reasoned opinion about climate change. You might also educate yourself on the pros and cons of fluoridating municipal water supplies, so you can (reasonably) take sides in the ongoing fluoridation debate.

At this point, I should add that those taking sides in a debate often didn’t think their way to a conclusion; they felt their way. In deciding which position to take, they didn’t listen to their head. They instead listened to their heart and gut—which, I should add, are incapable of reasoning their way to a conclusion. Alternatively, they might have outsourced their thinking about a topic, in which case they would have relied on their surrogate thinker to tell them which side to take. In either of these cases, they won’t be able to give a coherent justification of their views.

Your mind-expansion explorations can be very wide ranging. You might even take a closer look at conspiracy theories. People do, after all, conspire, and the resulting conspiracies can have a profound impact on humanity. In the second half of the twentieth century, for example, American tobacco companies entered into a “conspiracy of silence” to keep people in the dark about the dangers of smoking.

In your investigation of conspiracy theories, though, you will avoid theorists who are unwilling or unable to provide evidence for the claims they make. You will, in particular, avoid theorists who, when pressed for evidence, tell you that they are “just asking questions.” On the other hand, if a conspiracy theory is espoused by someone with a reputation for open-minded critical thinking, you should pay close attention. And if they can provide reliable evidence that a conspiracy exists and explain how it works, you might join them in espousing that theory.

More generally, you should look for Thinkers who hold unconventional or even unpopular views. They are likely paying a social price for holding these views, but it is a price they are willing to pay. Their goal, after all, is not to gain other people’s approval, but to fill their mind, to the extent possible, with true beliefs. These intellectual mavericks have had a profound impact on human history. Much of what we now regard as common sense—such as that diseases can be caused by invisible germs, that the earth revolves around the sun, and that the chemicals found in some plastics can cause cancer—can be traced back to them.

Another thing you will do as part of your mind-expansion activities is look for your intellectual blind spots. One way to do this is to monitor your thought processes during conversations. When you notice that you are tuning out the information your interlocutor is providing, you should pause to examine your reluctance to listen. If it is because you have good reason to think that the information in question is mistaken, your behavior makes perfect sense. Suppose, however, that you are tuning it out because you know that if you pay attention to it, you will have to rethink some aspect of your life. When you catch yourself doing this, you should make a mental note to spend some of your mind-expansion time learning more about whatever it is that you are hiding from.

For years, I had a blind spot regarding the treatment of animals raised for human consumption, including chickens, cattle, and pigs. I made a point to keep myself in the dark about factory farming. I was afraid that learning the truth would have an impact on what I ate. It took conscious effort on my part, but I finally did the relevant research. And yes, my fears were subsequently justified.

Becoming a Thinker will require lots of thinking on your part, and in particular, it will require you to rethink your current beliefs. If you are averse to doing this, you’ve come to the wrong place. The point of engaging in open-minded critical thinking is not so you can become more confident of whatever beliefs you happen to hold. It is so you can get rid of mistaken beliefs, acquire additional true beliefs, and thereby optimize your mind.