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An introduction to the idea that different people can look at the same thing and see something different.
Imagine you and a friend are looking at the exact same cloud. You see a fluffy dragon, but your friend insists it looks like a giant piece of popcorn. Who is actually right?
In philosophy, a perspective is a particular way of looking at or considering something. Think of it like a pair of glasses that everyone wears. Your 'glasses' are shaped by where you are standing, what you have learned, and even how you are feeling. Because everyone stands in a different spot and has different life experiences, no two people see the world in the exact same way. This doesn't mean one person is 'wrong' and the other is 'right.' Instead, it means they are seeing different parts of the same reality. Understanding this is the first step toward empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.
Quick Check
In your own words, what is a 'perspective'?
Answer
A perspective is a specific way of seeing or thinking about something based on your own position or experiences.
1. Imagine the number is painted on the floor between two people. 2. Person A stands at the bottom and sees a . 3. Person B stands at the top, looking down, and sees a . 4. Both people are telling the truth based on where they are standing. The 'truth' depends on their physical position.
Physical position is just one reason perspectives change. Our background—the things we've done and the places we've been—acts as a filter. For example, if a professional soccer player and a person who has never seen sports both watch a game, they will see very different things. The player sees strategy and technique, while the beginner might just see people running. Neither view is 'incorrect,' but the player's perspective is more detailed because of their experience. We also have emotional perspectives. If you are having a bad day, a rainy afternoon might feel 'gloomy.' If you love jumping in puddles, that same rain feels 'exciting!'
Quick Check
Can two people look at the same rainstorm and have different perspectives? Why?
Answer
Yes, because one might focus on the gloominess (emotion) while another might focus on the fun of puddles or the need for water for plants (experience).
The school decides to ban cell phones during lunch. 1. Student Perspective: They feel frustrated because they can't text their parents or play games with friends. 2. Teacher Perspective: They feel relieved because students are finally talking to each other face-to-face. 3. Principal Perspective: They see it as a way to reduce cyberbullying during school hours. Each person sees a different 'truth' about the same rule.
There is an old story about three blind men touching an elephant. One touches the trunk and says, 'An elephant is like a thick snake!' Another touches the leg and says, 'No, an elephant is like a tree trunk!' The third touches the side and says, 'You are both wrong; an elephant is like a wall!'
Each man had a partial truth. They weren't lying, but they didn't have the full picture. To understand what an elephant really is, they would need to combine their perspectives. In life, we often only see one 'side' of a situation. By listening to others, we can put the pieces together to find a more complete version of the truth.
A group project gets a low grade. 1. Student A thinks: 'It's because Student B didn't do their part.' 2. Student B thinks: 'It's because the instructions were confusing.' 3. The Teacher thinks: 'It's because the group didn't ask for help when they were stuck.' To solve the problem for next time, the group must acknowledge all three perspectives instead of just blaming one person.
Which of the following best defines 'perspective'?
If two people have different perspectives on a situation, one of them must be lying.
In the story of the blind men and the elephant, why was their understanding of the elephant incomplete?
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember the '6 and 9' example. Can you explain to someone else why both people were right?
Practice Activity
The next time you disagree with a friend or sibling, stop and ask yourself: 'What is one thing they might be seeing that I am missing?'