an individual. For Aristotle, virtues cannot be separated from actions and in this
intellectual virtues are no different. Indeed, the virtues of the intellect help to guide us
towards right actions and in describing phronesis (practical wisdom) Aristotle provides
us with an illustration of the close relationship between the virtues of the intellect and
the virtues of the character. In this respect open-mindedness is no different. To consider
open-mindedness as a virtue is to recognise its place in guiding the actions of a person.
That is to say that an account of open-mindedness as a virtue requires that the
interdependency between cognition and action be recognised. In this chapter I provide
an outline of what is meant by open-mindedness in general and as a virtue in particular,
and explain why it is a necessary virtue for the practice of nursing.
The nature of open-mindedness
According to Gardner it is a common understanding to say that “... being open-minded
about something rules out commitment or belief’ (Gardner 1993 p. 40). However it is
neither clear that this is indeed the commonly held view of open-mindedness nor is it
clear that any particular individual would think this to be what is meant by being open-
minded. IfI were to say that I have an open-mind about something it would be possible
for a listener to interpret my claim in one of (at least) two ways. They might think, for
example, that I have not yet made up my mind or they might think that I am open to
being persuaded to change my mind about whatever it is that I am claiming to have an
open-mind about (other possible interpretations might suggest themselves depending on
the context in which the claim to be open-minded is made). Not only is there a clear
difference in these two interpretations (the former implies I have not yet come to hold a
view, the latter suggests a view has already been formed) but also both of the
interpretations appear to be equally valid as everyday understandings of what it means
to be open-minded. In both cases it would be true to the general everyday sense of the
term that my mind remains open rather than closed about this particular thing. This is to
say that I do not have a fixed and unalterable opinion, view, or belief about the matter.
There may be some things about which I do indeed have a fixed (and perhaps
permanent) opinion, view, or belief but when I claim to have an open-mind about a
particular thing I am stating that in this case I have an open rather than closed mind.
And there is nothing in what has been said so far that makes one meaning of open-
mindedness more correct than the other.
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