A metaphor is used to compare our perception to “red glasses”, screening our eyes and limiting how we see. The books tells us our perception is limited. However “perception”, as in how we see the “thing for me”, in my opinion, is never really “limited”. I hate to think that my ability to see, interpret, appreciate and love could ever be “limited” especially since my views are ever changing and even influenced by others. Moreover, as I am aware that I wear glasses, I am also aware of the fact that there are many other glasses out there and am always interested in what others see. I understand that a rainy day could be “seen” as beautiful and soothing to me but through other “glasses” could be seen as dismal and unwelcoming. My knowledge of other visions already extends my perception. Therefore, I don’t quite agree that our perception is completely “limited”. The word is negative in connotations suggesting that our ability to “wonder” can only go to some small extent.
So, I suppose in the bigger philosophical picture, we can only wander so far…
6 comments:
Hi Joei!
A very thought provoking post!
You believe that the opinions of others "extends [your] perception". I, however, disagree with you because the opinions of others and our own past experiences are the very reasons why our glasses are 'tinted' and therefore limited. We aren't able to view the world limitless so long as we each have our prejudices and thoughts.
Indeed, I must second that.
However, I feel that all of our abilities are limited. Physically speaking, we can not fly. Mentally speaking, we can not imagine something with a basis that we have never seen.
In the days of the Greeks, explorers were ridiculed for describing ice sheets that looked like pancakes, but shook like jelly. This is because they had limited experiences, and thus the methods of describing and imagining were limited as well.
As it is impossible to experience everything there is to experience, can we not say that we truly are limited?
Hello Joei, I do not agree that are perception is not limited. Our perception is always limited as there are just some things that people see differently than others. They just cannot see the real picture of what is really happening as they are limited by their own idea about how they see different things. It is this difference that causes our perception to be limited; our minds are different so everything people look at is at a different perspective.
Hello Joei, again you leave with controversial interpretations!
I enjoy your opposing view of a limited perception. It is true that there are many 'glasses' out there waiting for us to try and to experience. However, sometimes it is our brain that affects us not our glasses - that is when stereotypes and personal jealousy comes into place. No matter how many glasses you change into, these things still veil your perception. That is just like how everyone has different tastes in glasses, controlled by our unconscious.
In the end, I still find what you have written very intriguing and inspiring!
i like how you think that we are not limited to what we see. But don't you think this is only because you already understand that there are many people out there who have other views which differ from yours? What if we are talking about people who were brought up with a religious background holding certain beliefs? Do you think their perception is very limited?
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