This paper is an attempt to summarize the contrast between the respective outlooks of the closed and the open societies, here presented as two separate coherent and consistent sets of ideas, principles, arguments and values. It was originally conceived as support for the thesis that the sense behind the apparent senselessness of our educational systems is that they function as a fifth column of the closed society entrenched within the open society, which thesis will be expounded upon in another envisaged paper. Yet, its usefulness is hoped to extend to other areas as well.