#143: Parable of the Plank, Scout Mindset & the Gramophone Mind

3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Being Open-Minded

I. Parable of the Plank

The right mindset can make the difference between winning and losing. Especially in competitive sports. You may be confident in training but be terrified of competing in front of an audience. Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor John Danaher puts those fears in perspective with his Parable of the Plank:

In the 1970s, a young John Danaher was attending a high school in rural New Zealand. One day, an "enthusiastic amateur" stuntman dropped by to perform a series of stunts for the kids. The children watched in amazement as the Australian "daredevil" set his gloved hand on fire, caught a boomerang and walked across a plank he put up between the two buildings of the school. "How can he do that?" the children wondered.

After this final trick, the stuntman took the plank and put it on the ground, letting the children cross it one by one. It was easy for the kids. Then the stuntman looked at them and said something John never forgot: "The plank is the same. I put it up higher and so it took your breath away. But you guys just ran across the plank. The plank didn't change, your perceptions of it did."

👉 If you enjoy these kinds of stories, check out my article on 12 Short Anecdotes That Entertain and Enlighten.

---

II. Scout Mindset

Scout Mindset is a concept that encourages us to approach beliefs and information with a mindset focused on exploration and truth-seeking. This is in contrast to a Soldier Mindset, an attitude that’s more concerned with defending pre-existing views, protecting our current beliefs and winning arguments.

To get into the Scout Mindset we must actively seek out information that might challenge our beliefs, be open to updating our views and view discussions as collaborative truth-seeking endeavours rather than adversarial battles. It emphasises intellectual curiosity, humility and a more rational and objective approach to decision-making and understanding the world.

The Scout Mindset was coined by American philosopher Julia Galef in her book The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't. It’s a modern interpretation of the difference between Philia Sophia and Philia Nikia.

---

III. Gramophone Mind

A willingness to listen to other perspectives and to change our opinions are the hallmarks of open-mindedness. But it’s not to be confused with passively accepting and repeating ideas without independent thought. George Orwell called this the Gramophone Mind:

To exchange one orthodoxy for another is not necessarily an advance. The enemy is the gramophone mind, whether or not one agrees with the record that is being played at the moment.

—George Orwell

🐘

Have a great week,

Chris
themindcollection.com