The opinion on the other side

I was recently referring to my old elementary school science teacher who would always play the part of the Devil's advocate against the pupils' point of view, just to make them see the other side - and in that context I found it interesting that I stumbled upon a quote from Charlie Munger, who is perhaps best known to be Warren Buffet's partner in the investment firm Berkshire Hathaway. The quote says that:

I never allow myself to have an opinion on anything that I don't know the other side's argument better than they do.

An attitude which, despite the fact that it sounds ambitious, is very good to have - as the knowledge it talks about is good to have. If you get to know the arguments both for and against so well that you would be able to argue for both at one and the same time, you also have in your conscious mind had the internal discussion that allows you to have an opinion.
This does not have to mean that you form an opinion which in carved in stone for eternity. People change, times change, and it's a very bad idea to hold on something just because you once thought it was the best way.
(Translated from Meningen på den anden side, originally published February 2, 2017)

The (not so) diabolical teacher

At a later point in time, I was told that one of my favorite teachers in elementary school once by parents in a meeting was asked about his attitude towards nuclear power - the subject was highly controversial in those years - and to this question he replied: "The pupils will never get to know my opinion. Unless they have an opinion themselves - then they can rest assured that my opinion is the absolute opposite."
At a time when one of the other major buzzwords was "indoctrination", and where several teachers could have a hard time leaving their personal attitudes in the teachers' room, it was one of his good personal traits that he was so willing to to play the devil's advocate - or the devil's science teacher, if you want to.
I think it would benefit all of us if we were more able and willing to engage in conversations challenged by opinions that differed from the ones we actually have - rather than being confirmed in our own opinions to the extent that they eventually become the only acceptable truth.
(Translated from Den (knapt så) djævelske lærer, published January 17, 2017)

Life's too short for people like me

At one point I attended an event on creativity, where one of the conclusions was - albeit phrased somewhat differently - as stated in the heading.
The reason is simply that you do not get inspired by people who say the same as yourself - mostly people who have the same background as you or in some way resemble you. Inspiration comes from people who are different than you are.
People who agree with you in everything, who are in the same point in life as yourself, are not able inspire you; you can use them to pat yourself on the shoulder, and although that itself may be very nice, it's not what moves the world forward.
What moves the world forward is people to disagree with, or to discuss with, whether or not it originates in constructive criticism or an curious question as to why you behave the way you do.
Even in the company of the people you agree with, you should look at the differences between you and them and examine them.
Because it is thereby you are going to consider whether your attitudes are rational, and to be inspired to do new and exciting things.
(Translated from Livet er for kort til folk som mig, originally published December 27th, 2011)