Replying to LO27323 --
Ian wrote:
>I am struck by how little I understand people of other faiths, cultures
>and ideologies. Lack of understanding is almost as bad as intolerance.
Ian -- doesn't it depend? If we don't understand something that is
irrational, have we lost something important? Is our lack of understanding
always a moral turpitude?
Irrational people and policies are always a part of human organizations,
at some level. Fortunately, they're usually short lived, as they're an
incredibly destructive force. I think one of the primary reasons for this,
is the natural human instinct to constantly learn, to create, to improve,
to progress. Indeed, historically, we could say this is a fundamental part
of what it means to be human.
So there are times when I simply don't strive to understand certain mental
models, or certain behaviors. Partly because I'm afraid that to understand
them I must first become the type of person who views them as rational.
Going through such a metamorphisis is a price I'm not willing to pay (in
other words, I would make a terrible criminal profiler!). Another reason
is that I would rather focus on the rational, the constructive, allowing
the natural forces of change to take care of those things that don't make
sense to me.
Then again, there are times when our lack of understanding is a
signicifant problem. I'm constantly asking myself: Is this thing (person,
belief, policy, etc.) something I should better understand or not?
Obviously, the answers are not always easy or obvious. Thank God I have
some rational cognitive ability, so I can at least ask the question!
-- Benjamin Compton http://www.thecastingdeck.comLearning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <Richard@Karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>
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