It’s easy to judge someone else’s choices or values when they seem strange or unimportant to us. But as William James argues in his essay On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings, this judgment often reveals more about ourselves than others. Whether it’s the way a friend enjoys a strange hobby we can’t understand or a culture with traditions that seem foreign, James reminds us of the value of opening our minds to different perspectives.
For example, have you ever criticized someone’s lifestyle only to later realize you missed its importance to them? This essay makes us think about how we view others and what we might gain from seeing through their eyes.
As I did my research, it was clear that William James was urging the reader to reflect on themself in order to understand our limitations. Once we understand our limitations, we can try to understand why others appreciate things that we might not. This idea of opening your eyes after understanding yourself reminded me of a TED Talk I watched in High School. A scientist named Brené Brown talks about how, in order to form true human connections, empathy and vulnerability must be involved. It's a beautiful message that is only a 20-minute watch.
James praises Walt Whitman as a "contemporary prophet" celebrating all human experiences. James quotes Whitman's poem, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, and illustrates how Whitman found beauty and meaning in everyday life and ordinary people, reinforcing the idea of appreciating others' perspectives.
James' argument resonates deeply with me, especially in today's world, where misunderstanding often leads to division. I feel like this essay really stood out to me as someone who had to adapt a lot to Tennessee. I moved from Pennsylvania in 6th grade, and it was a very big transition. From the views that people held about what a traditional family was to why people called shopping carts "buggies," it was a lot to take in and I didn't understand why. As I grew up and made friends, I realized that while there were things I thought were downright wrong/weird, I was still capable of looking past it and loving these people. In a time when division seems to have taken over most topics, I believe his call for empathy is more urgent than ever. The more we talk and learn about each other, the easier it is to see that maybe we do have core values that relate and aren't as different as they seem.
A critic of William James' essay might say, "In a polarized society, recognizing others' perspectives is a nice idea but unrealistic. People are too hung up on their views."
I agree that this is a challenge, but small efforts can make a big difference. For instance, having genuine conversations with those who think differently or consuming media from every voice can open our eyes. Modern social media is like an echo chamber, but we can consciously choose to break out of it. Many historians also believe times of tension are characterized by this gridlock, which is why many studies have been done, and it's even recommended that to keep America healthy; we test ourselves with these conversations.
James would likely propose the idea that our duty is not to achieve perfection in understanding but to continually work toward it: "To miss out on another’s world of meaning is to diminish our own humanity.". I believe James would just be happy with people making an effort, which unfortunately, is not seen a lot today.
Revisiting my discussion question from the presentation: Can you think of a time when you realized your own perspective was limited in understanding someone else's experience?
For me, it was when I dismissed a coworker’s enthusiasm for participating in cosplay conventions. I couldn’t understand why someone would spend so much time and money on it. However, seeing their work and listening to their excitement, I realized it was a creative outlet and a source of joy that I had no right to look down on. I think it's healthy to take time to reflect back on times when we didn't realize we were being rude or not trying to understand someone's viewpoint.
For my final part of this post, I want to touch back on how we can use James' work to better ourselves today. The idea of needing to listen more is timeless. When someone speaks, we listen but don't always HEAR. The important takeaway that James wants us to learn is to try to hear what people are saying and why they would. As globalization brings people closer, cultural misunderstandings can lead to conflict. James’ call for empathy can help bridge these gaps. In modern America, we see a lot of hatred towards other races, especially from people who are the faces of our very country. It's essential that we don't spread this hatred to the new generations to ensure an inclusive and understanding world. Teaching students to appreciate diverse perspectives can foster tolerance and inclusion from a young age.
In conclusion, William James’ essay makes us confront our own limitations and work for a deeper understanding of others. By seeing our "blindness" and working to overcome it, we not only better our own lives but also contribute to a more tolerant world. The next time you find yourself dismissing someone’s choices/values, pause and ask yourself, What might I be missing? If you read James' Essay and want to see more of his work, he has written so many wonderful essays. I would recommend The Will to Believe or What Makes a Life Significant?
If you truly want to better your life and start by incorporating this piece of advice from James, you can try exposing yourself to perspectives that challenge your own, whether through books, podcasts, or conversations. You can also practice listening, not judging, and reflecting on conversations in which you didn't agree on something with someone. By taking small steps, we can all move closer to seeing beyond ourselves.
Empathy really is a crucial ingredient of social stability and mutual respect. If it's going, we're in trouble. "The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism." ~Hannah Arendt
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