How we interpret what we read, see or hear depends very much on our preconceived ideas, what you want to hear or see and the angle from which you look at it. Failing to look at it from different perspectives gives it a narrow and lopsided view.
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Cicero says to Casca: "Men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves." The world has undergone a major transformation from the age of Shakespeare, but the nature of man has not changed at all. Men indeed interpret things in their own ways, clean from the actual meaning.
This is all well and fine until we meet a fanatic who thinks that his interpretation is the only right one. Such a man is blind to other people's views and he would not be persuaded to look at the issue from a different angle. We have to be aware. Such men exist at every level of our society.
Our idea of the person who said or did something also determines how we interpret what he said or did. An insignificant person might have a great idea, but there will be few takers. On the other hand, even a bad deed by a famous person could be seen as virtuous as Casca says of Brutus "That which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness". If only we could learn to separate the doer and the action!
In a TV show, a group of people were shown the map of Africa upside down. They were asked to identify it. Nobody could. It looked so different and strange. As soon as it was put in the right position, everybody bursted out "Africa". This clearly shows that looking even at everyday common things from a different angle will give you a whole new outlook and perspective.
Only by looking at the same thing from different angles will we get a balanced perspective on any issue.
In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Cicero says to Casca: "Men may construe things after their fashion, Clean from the purpose of the things themselves." The world has undergone a major transformation from the age of Shakespeare, but the nature of man has not changed at all. Men indeed interpret things in their own ways, clean from the actual meaning.
This is all well and fine until we meet a fanatic who thinks that his interpretation is the only right one. Such a man is blind to other people's views and he would not be persuaded to look at the issue from a different angle. We have to be aware. Such men exist at every level of our society.
Our idea of the person who said or did something also determines how we interpret what he said or did. An insignificant person might have a great idea, but there will be few takers. On the other hand, even a bad deed by a famous person could be seen as virtuous as Casca says of Brutus "That which would appear offence in us, His countenance, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness". If only we could learn to separate the doer and the action!
In a TV show, a group of people were shown the map of Africa upside down. They were asked to identify it. Nobody could. It looked so different and strange. As soon as it was put in the right position, everybody bursted out "Africa". This clearly shows that looking even at everyday common things from a different angle will give you a whole new outlook and perspective.
Only by looking at the same thing from different angles will we get a balanced perspective on any issue.
2 comments:
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I like it! Good job. Go on.
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