Living in a world of constant debate and disagreement, evaluating
your own position on an issue of special or public importance[1] [1]
is sometimes straightforward when based on your beliefs, values, and
general knowledge. However, other times it is much harder to make up
your mind about an issue because the territory is new to you or to
humanity in general, or there are many competing or controversial
values and ideas that go into forming the issue under discussion or
dispute. When making up your own mind about the issue, it's
important to have studied the varied perspectives before reaching
your own conclusion. Even then, you are best served by keeping an
open mind about future directions and understandings as new
information transpires.
In this article, you'll be presented with some basic elements on how
to make up your mind about an issue, particularly where it is
complicated, divisive, and perhaps even untested.
!! Steps !!
Ignore your gut instinct. Your gut instinct is founded in your
prejudices and personal experiences, and no matter how hard you've
aimed to seek balance in how you perceive your experiences, residing
within them are your own interpretations of the world. When
assessing an issue for the first time, your prejudices [2] and
experiences will make it harder to evaluate the issue objectively.
As such, always be aware of what your own biases are, where they
come from, and what impact they have on the debate before you. Be
prepared to try and suspend your biases while working through your
understanding of the issue.
* Read How to overcome personal prejudice [3] and How to overcome
prejudice [4] for more information.
Clarify your value system. Write down your values, going from what
you believe to be most important to the least important. Think very
carefully about what each value or expression of that value means to
you and how it impacts the way in which you view the world and
complex or divisive issues such as the one before you. Part of this
exercise is to help you understand the importance of trying to
justify your decisions as you make them. Here are some examples of
values to consider when writing out your list:
* Justice (personal and societal), life/health (including
reproductive and mental health), national/cultural identity,
freedom, security, morality [5], human rights, human
responsibilities, imperialism, socialism, capitalism, technology,
environment, animal rights and welfare, and equality/tolerance.
* When creating your value system, remember that you are not just
considering yourself personally in many issues. For example, while
you may be willing to risk your own life for your own freedom, you
might not believe that the same should be required of other
people. Therefore in this case you would place "life" before
"freedom" in importance.
* Think about what personal things have happened to you in life that
have cemented your ideas about certain issues. Being aware that
you base some of your values in single occurrences that upset,
angered, or scared you is important.
Research the issue in depth. Research will enable you to go beyond
simply repeating the media headlines and what your neighbor, spouse,
or parents say. While it's helpful to listen to people objectively,
it isn't helpful to be swayed by noisy, repetitive, and emotional
hubris based solely on other people's comfort zones and hearsay. By
all means listen to what others have to say but be prepared to
research the _facts_ hidden under the noise of their agendas or
preferences.
* Read arguments from varying perspectives [6]. There are usually at
least two perspectives to any discussion or dispute but there are
frequently more, and many shades of gray in between. Be prepared
to read widely across the varying opinions, both "expert" and
"general", and try to see why different people hold differing
perspectives, as this will go a long way to enlightening your own
understanding of the issue.
* Understand the difference between facts and opinions [7]. While
opinions are useful guideposts for you provided you think about
them critically, facts are the aspects of the debate on which you
should be able to rely objectively. Unfortunately, finding the
facts is not as easy as it seems, especially if the facts come
from research studies which have been colored by the researcher's
own values. This means that you need to read more broadly than
simply looking to one or two authors/experts/commentators in any
field, to ensure that you're not just being exposed to a biased
viewpoint. Read about the issue from a variety of researcher's
studies, media news, opinion pieces, blogs, peer reviews, history,
etc., in order to get a more balanced view.
* Even within those holding your own beliefs and values, you will
find varying levels of comprehension and perspectives. Which of
those match most closely to your own and why? Always be very aware
that there will often be convergences between differing opinions
and it is prudent to look for those to see where compromises can
be made successfully. However, keep in mind equally that
convergences in extremist views are generally not about compromise
[8] positions but are often based on shoring up one societal
group's benefits at the expense of anyone else, with little room
for debate. Beware anything that claims to represent the absolute
truth or understanding of the issue.
Relate the facts of the issue to your values. After you've done the
research and reflected over the matter, draw the threads together to
firm up your stance on the issue. Ask yourself which solution or
side is closest to reflecting your values and beliefs [9].
* When deciding on an opinion, avoid focusing on blame and instead
focus on solutions or change that can be made. For example, on the
issue of pollution you might decide that humans are responsible,
but you should focus on how humans can change their habits or
reverse the effects. Taking a proactive approach moves everyone
forward, while blame causes everyone to continue debating and to
look to the past.
Go beyond forming your opinion and ask yourself how you would defend
[10] your stance on the issue if someone were to question you. Ask
yourself the opposite questions to see if your answers "hold water"
when questioned.
* Play devil's advocate [11] with someone you can trust and you know
you can have a good conversation with. For the sake of being
contrary, question everything that they say about the issue and
work through it together in this way. It's probably a good idea to
let the other person know that this is what you're up to, or they
might think you're being rude or difficult!
* Here's a hard but effective method: when you have a strong opinion
about an issue, write an essay defending your opinion with as much
evidence and actual citations as possible. Then, write another
essay defending the other side, again with evidence and citations,
considering that side's arguments seriously and being scrupulously
honest and putting in as much effort as you did for the first
essay. How do you feel at the end of writing both?
Advocate for your issue. Now that you have a well thought-out
opinion and the knowledge to back it up, participate in the larger
discussion. Publish essays [12], write letters, demonstrate, or
maybe create your own organization to make your goals [13] a
reality. Even just talking with family, friends, and community
members is an important means for getting out your message and
understanding.
* If you find your emotions keep getting in the way of your delivery
of your opinion, go back to the research information. Draw on that
to back up your statements and opinions rather than blathering out
emotionally charged vitriol. People respect cool-headed,
constructive arguing but emotional tirades are soon dismissed as
too much effort and a load of hot air.
Remain open minded. Keep an open mind [14] at every point, even
after you've decided on your values and opinions. It's very easy to
have made an error or missed something in this process. Moreover, as
more information comes to light or as other people argue their cause
and perspectives, you may find yourself seeing aspects of their
argument that appeal to you that might rightly form a part of your
outlook. Being able to accept when your own opinion and ideas need
adjustment is a sign of healthy growth and a lively mind [15], one
destined to keep up with events as they unroll rather than remaining
mired in a single decision taken once and never budged from again.
Ultimately, making up your mind is not a once-in-a-lifetime activity
but part of an ongoing process in which your core values continue to
hold but your willingness to continue listening and learning informs
and updates your opinion.
* Read How to exercise an open mind [16] for more details.
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Keep an open mind at every point, even after you've decided on
your values and opinions. It's very easy to have made an error or
missed something in this process.
* When researching, you may want to write down what facts you can
determine for sure and which are too controversial to make a
definite conclusion about.
* When evaluating election issues for politicians or office holders,
their past responsibility can indicate how they will act in the
position they're running for. By the same token, you may also
choose to believe that a person who has shown that they have
reformed their behavior truly means to continue along that path.
Weigh up the possibilities using your research and judgment.
!! Warnings !!
* Know which battles to fight and which to leave. Reserve your
energies for when it really matters and for when you're well armed
with information and facts. Be respectful of other people's
opinions and be sure to hear them out attentively – just as you
would wish for them to do for you.
* When a decision is made that you believe is wrong, remember that
there are many peaceful and constructive means for challenging it.
Anything involving violence, injury or death is morally wrong and
does nothing to further a cause or belief. Holding a belief that
harming another to prove an opinion or point is acceptable is
morally reprehensible and invites the same aggression and violence
being turned back on you.
* Bear in mind that expertise does not necessarily mean value-free.
After all, the expert is a human too and will naturally incline
toward the expert view that agrees with his or her own values.
Read widely across "experts" to avoid relying simply on one or
two.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* A journal or a notebook for your research
* Library access and internet access for research
* Opportunities to listen to others about the issue - attend
meetings, discussions, debates, and voting on the issue to learn
more
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Get Your Signature Word [17]
* How to Stop Your Voice from Shaking [18]
* How to Improve Your Clarity of Speech [19]
* How to Come up With Good Conversation Topics [20]
* How to Make a Mind Map [21]
!! Sources And Citations !!
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
Links:
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[1] http://bemoreconfident.info/#_note-0
[2] http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Personal-Prejudice
[3] http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Personal-Prejudice
[4] http://www.wikihow.com/Overcome-Prejudice
[5] http://www.wikihow.com/Determine-Moral-Principles-Without-Religion
[6] http://www.wikihow.com/Gain-a-New-Perspective
[7] http://www.wikihow.com/Get--Along-With-People-Having-Different-Opinions
[8] http://www.wikihow.com/Reach-a-Consensus
[9] http://www.wikihow.com/Develop-Your-Own-Beliefs
[10] http://www.wikihow.com/Defend-Your-Choice-to-Be-Childless
[11] http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Devil%27s-Advocate
[12] http://www.wikihow.com/Write-an-Essay
[13] http://www.wikihow.com/Accomplish-a-Goal
[14] http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Open-Minded
[15] http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Lively
[16] http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-an-Open-Mind
[17] http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Signature-Word
[18] http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Your-Voice-from-Shaking
[19] http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Clarity-of-Speech
[20] http://www.wikihow.com/Come-up-With-Good-Conversation-Topics
[21] http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Mind-Map
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