In one sense you are very much on target, it is really impossible for a
person to "see" with someone else's eyes. We have only one view, that
of our own mind, and everything we experience is our own individual
reality. In many ways reality is moot, it is our interpretations that
drive us. No matter how much we seek out and try to share with other
realities, as far as I know each person is limited to their own mind.
And each mind has its own way of filtering reality. Your suggestion
about the importance of being objective is something I agree with.
While I don't believe anyone has the ability to learn without filtering
the information in some way, an objective observer is one who makes all
efforts to avoid changing what is learned. So the individual's
perception is expected to be close to "reality", at least closer than
those who allow their biases to strongly affect all they know.
The problem with the Zen thing, IMO, is the same as any ideal - in this
real world, very few, if any, will ever achieve the ideal. (My personal
belief is that all ideals are impossible, but I cannot prove it and
will not waste time trying.) But that doesn't mean it isn't a worthy
goal - to the contrary, it's an admirable one, and I respect those who
pursue it. But just don't count on it, that's all I say. Just as you
said earlier when you discussed the Japanese, there is the surface
reality and a deeper reality. It is hard to know that deeper reality.
Sean Gawne
gawnesm@songs.sce.com
> I also feel that different perspectives can add to or polish your
> objectivity!
>
Can some one tell me why a different perspective supposes you are
objective or have greater objectivity than someone with a broad
perspective?
The way you folks use perspective is consistent with the
psychological concept of a perception filter. If your perception is
such that it has no filter than you need only one perspective.
Ditto's with objectivity and frames of reference.
Zen training allows one to shed your version of perspective.
Charles Barclay 2404 Maile Way
Dept. of Mgmt & Ind Relations Honolulu, HI 96822
University of Hawaii Fax: 808 956-2774
barclay@busadm1.cba.hawaii.edu Phone: 808 956-8545
"The marketplace is much too Darwinian to permit that much
discussion." DEC CEO Robert Palmer assessing the effect of managers
working together in management decisions for foreign operations.
BusinessWeek 1994 Special Issue--21st Century Capitalism