Philosophical Perspectives on Trustworthiness and Open-mindedness as Professional Virtues for the Practice of Nursing: Implications for he Moral Education of Nurses

As already noted, Gardner claims that it is not possible to be open-minded and hold a
firm view about the same thing at the same time. He puts this most forcefully when he
asks if it is possible for the Pope to be open-minded about the existence of God
(Gardner 1993). This is a rhetorical question for Gardner takes it as absurd that one can
be open-minded about a commitment of this nature. Gardner makes a distinction which
I interpret as a difference between 'having an open-mind' in the particular (which he
claims is the everyday meaning of open-mindedness) and 'being open-minded' in
general (which he takes to be inconsistent with holding any firm views at all). Hare and
McLaughlin (1994) claim that Gardner's position illustrates a common
misunderstanding about the nature of open-mindedness. William Hare puts it thus:
“...the open-minded person is one who is able and willing to form an opinion, or revise
it, in the light of evidence and argument” (Hare, 1988, p. 123).

Four categories of open-mindedness

Following this definition I take it that it is possible to be open-minded in four different
sorts of ways.

i) I have insufficient evidence on which to form a firm view

This is the position in respect of my view of whether or not those incarcerated in camp
X-ray are being treated appropriately. I have an open-mind on this question and remain
uncommitted to a particular view while maintaining my view in general.

U) Ihave not yet given attention to the matter so Ihave no firm view
Here I am unable to hold a firm view based on evidence as I have not considered it
necessary and unless I can be convinced of a need to hold a firm view on the matter I
will continue to remain open-minded about it. This is not say that I have no opinion on
the matter, but it is to say that my opinion is likely to be based on something other than
sufficient evidence or argument.

Ui) I have given attention to the matter but the information is such that I cannot arrive
at a firm view based on evidence

This is similar to position 1 above where I remain of the opinion that sufficient
information exists and that I anticipate access to that information. In position Ui) I have
accessed the available information and find the evidence to be inconclusive (the jury is
still out, so to speak). It is possible that one day there may be additional and perhaps

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