Perspective Taking In The Modern World

As the old adage states, there are two sides to every story. Unfortunately, arguments in which neither side is willing to back down or cooperate, unsatisfactory solutions, and poorly made conclusions that people blindly follow are becoming more and more common in the modern world. The solution to these growing dilemmas lies in the simple act of perspective taking. Knowing many different ways that a subject could be perceived is better than knowing a lot about one perspective on the same subject.
Looking at previously known things in a different light has allowed us to advance in ways we would have otherwise never imagined. As an example, we can take the very first chapter of Lewis Carroll’s book, “Through the Looking-Glass”, and reanalyze some

A multitude of studies shows that the more someone partakes in shoe-stepping, the more positive benefits come about, while those that do not take part in this practice have proven to be more prone to “delinquent behavior” (Davis, Love). In fact, “higher job performance evaluations, ...more satisfied subordinates, …[and] greater [patient-doctor] trust and satisfaction” (Davis, Love) have been linked to those that indulge in the aforementioned exercise. So not only does the practice of perspective taking result in an increase in the quality of interpersonal relationships, but its benefits also reach out into the working world as well. An exception to the overall positive outcomes of perspective taking is its relation to racial stereotypes. Instead of decreasing these stereotypes as one would expect, perspective taking often has no effect and is sometimes even exaggerated. However, psychologists have used this method to effectively reduce stereotypes in the past (qtd. in Davis, Love). This suggests that without the aid of a third party or proper training, perspective taking has the potential to work deconstructively in regards to racial stereotype

Every single person that walks this earth is living a life every bit as vivid and complex as our own complete with their own memories and opinions and their reasons for having them (Koenig). Whenever a person chooses to go through with a decision, it is because, in that moment, they believe that decision to be either the best of their choices or permissible given the circumstance (Formosa). According to renowned German philosopher Immanuel Kant’s philosophy, no man can do bad purely because it is bad; there is always a reason for it whether it be for selfish gain, gratification, or simply because an alternate path was not seen (qtd. in Formosa). In other words, no one ever commits a “bad deed” simply because it is “bad” and never is a “distasteful” action taken for no reason at all; evil always comes with justification. No action is committed without reason. The sooner this is realized, the closer humanity will come to solving disputes more