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Keeping a Mind Open

Is open-mindedness an essential tool for living or does it signify empty-headedness? Mark Tully teases at this puzzle with help from Sufi, Rumi, and philosopher Bertrand Russell.

Mark Tully debates the pros and cons of an open mind - in life, in politics, in philosophy.

Keeping an open mind lies at the heart of Something Understood - or so Mark suggests. There may, however, be advantages to having a closed mind from time to time - to maintaining unswerving resolution and decisiveness, to wearing metaphorical blinkers to maintain a necessary focus.

Mark Tully examines the cases for and against keeping a mind open at all times with readings from the work of philosophers Eric Hoffer and Bertrand Russell, verse from 13th century mystic Rumi, and music by Arvo Part and Bengali singer Paban Das Baul.

The readers are Jasper Britton, Adjoa Andoh and Francis Cadder.

Presenter: Mark Tully
Producer: Frank Stirling

A 7digital production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Dec 2023 06:05

Featured Tracks

Title: Tabula Rasa I. Ludus (Live)

Performer: Gidon Kremer

Composer: Arvo Part

Album: Arvo Pärt: Tabula Rasa

Label: ECM Records

Cat: 4763878

ÌýÌýÌýÌý

Title: Mon MotiÌý

Performer: Paban Das Baul and Sam Mills

Album: Real Sugar

Label: Real World Records

Cat: CDRW65

Ìý

Title: Viderunt OmnesÌý

Performer: Hilliard Ensemble

Composer: Perotin

Album: Perotin

Label: ECM Records

ÌýÌýÌýÌý

Title: Nuevo Tango

Performer: Astor Piazzolla & Gary Burton

Composer: Astor Piazzolla

Album: The New Tango: Recorded At The Montreux Festival

Label: Rhino Atlantic

Ìý

Title: Bamako CityÌý

Performer: Damon Albarn, Malian Musicians

Album: Mali Music

Label: Honest Jon’s Records

Cat: HJRCD1

Ìý

Title: Idyll for String Orchestra: V. Adagio

Performer: Orchestra da Camera 'Ferrucio Busoni’, Massimo Belli

Composer: Leos Janacek

Album: Idyll: Serenades by Janacek, Elgar, Kalinnikov

Label: Brilliant Classics

Cat: 95199BR


Readings

ÌýTitle: The Guest House

Found in The Essential Rumi

Author: Rumi

Translated by Coleman Barks

Published by Harper Collins

Ìý

Title: Can We Afford to Keep Open Minds?ÌýÌý

Found in The New York Times 11 June 1950

Author: Bertrand Russell

Ìý

Title: The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass MovementÌý

Author: Eric Hoffer

Published by Perennial Classics

Ìý

Title: Welcome ChangeÌýÌý

Author: Gina Whitacre

Published by Poem Hunter

Ìý

Title: Democracy and EducationÌý

Author: John Dewey

Published by Macmillan

Ìý

Title: Handbook for the Urban Warrior

Author: Barefoot Doctor

Published by Wayward Publications

Ìý

Title: Help Us To HopeÌýÌý

Found in Hope Against Darkness: The Transforming Vision of Saint Francis in an Age of Anxiety

Author: Richard Rohr

Published by St Anthony Messenger Press

Broadcasts

  • Sun 3 Mar 2019 06:05
  • Sun 3 Dec 2023 06:05