1 We can usually learn much more from people whose views we share than from people whose views contradict our own; disagreement can cause stress and inhibit learning
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Some people believe that we usually learn more from contradictory views; while others hold that we usually learn more from people whose views we share. As far as I am concerned, I agree with the latter opinion.
Admittedly, it is the nature of human beings to be inclined to be agreed by others and accept similar views. And contradict views usually causes stress which discourage people to learn. However, a careful consideration will reveal that contradictory ideas are equally, if not more, important than familiar opinions.
On one hand, contradictory views render us new methods to access traditional problems. The advantages in contradictory views usually contribute to the development of both sides. At the beginning of the 20th century, two contradictory theories are used to describe micro phenomenon in physic. One is wave theory and the other is particles theory. Although the supporters of each theory try to defeat opponents for a long period, however, the effort was ended in vain. Finally, Louis de Broglie, a French physicist, combined the merits of the two theories and brought a new concept that everything in the world can be explained both by particles and wave. The concept started a new age for modern physics.
On the other hand, only when forced by the challenge of the contradictory opinion can people try to improve their holding opinions. Usually, people might take something as granted, neglecting some flaws or insufficiency in their views. When defending their positions, they have to reconsider whether the logic of their ideas is sound and whether the evidence is abundant. By the process of reconsideration and modification, people might get a new understanding to their opinions and improve them. For example, the role of counsels of defense is just to enhance the justice of judgment by projecting opposite views, which urge the accusers to provide more strong evidence.
Furthermore, contradictory views avoid us to be narrow-minded. Although the development of technology makes every discipline of science more specialized than ever before, the influence among different disciplines become increasingly tight. Different disciplines usually hold diverse ideas to the same thing. If people refuse contradictory opinions in other disciplines, their ideas would be narrower and narrower.
From what discussed above, we may draw the conclusion that we can also learn much from people whose views contradict to our own.