A philosophical puzzle for you:

Set up:

• Alan and Alex believe P.
• Bettie and Bob believe Q.
• All four of them examine their beliefs through rational reflection.

Results:

• Alan cannot justify P, but finds rational proof of Q, so changes his mind to Q.
• Alex can justify P with rational proof, so continues to believe P.
• Bettie cannot justify Q, but finds rational proof for P, so changes her mind to P.
• Bob can justify Q with rational proof, so continues to believe Q.

Analysis:

• Alan changes his mind to agree with Bob.
• Bettie changes her mind to agree with Alex.
• Both Alex and Bob do not change their mind, and continue to disagree.
• All four have some rational justification for their belief.

Questions:

• Which, if any, is a subversive or progressive? Alan and Bettie?
• Which, if any, is a traditionalist or conservative? Alex and Bob?
• Which, if any, is open-minded? All of them?
• Which, if any, is close-minded? All of them?

Meta-Question:

Do you need to know the content of P and Q before answering these questions? Is there anyway to define a traditionalist apart from the content of the tradition?

Is there any way to define a revolutionary apart from the content of the revolution?