I remember learning about paradigm shifts in high school debate class. My teacher was trying to drive a point home that everyone sees differently. But then, he said something that I disagreed with. And through the power of blogging, I can make a quasi-rebuttal. (Actual debates wasn’t really my thing. Impromtu speeches were more my thing. And philosophy was kind of his thing anyway.)
Rose Colored Glasses
He said that it people had on rose colored glasses, and that the goal was to see things clearly. He said that it is a lifetime pursuit to have clearer and clearer glasses, until you see things exactly as they are.
I have problems with that. How will I know what “clear” actually is. By determining “clear” am I actually reaffirming my bias. This also presents the problem of a rigid point of view, I could be so focused on keeping my paradigm “clear” that I refuse to accept new paradigms as valid.
And here’s the real kicker for me: there is a reason for rose colored glasses – real and metaphorical. With the real rose colored glasses, it’s not like a person went to make glasses and accidentally made them pink, and decided that they couldn’t fix it now, and the entire production line just had to keep going. No, the color helps to make the natural blue light less harsh.
I had a friend who said that she got a pair to help her with depression and anxiety. I don’t know if it is still working for her, but I do see how it’s about using what is useful. I don’t want the one right tool, I want the most helpful tool to help me move forward. My goal isn’t to see things as clearly as possible, but to move in a focused direction. When problems block my path, I use the perspective that helps me to keep moving forward.
Other Instruments of Sight
Polarized glasses are helpful for seeing past the shininess of water, to what’s going on below, say for fishing. making them ‘clear’ would render them useless. Prescription lenses are individualized, and can be very blury (unclear) to a different person. Individuals with certian forms of color blindness, find new ways of seeing through color corrective lenses (not clear). then there’s telescopes, microscopes, rearview mirrors, ways of detecting higher and lower frequencies of the elecrtomagnetic spectrum, radar, maps, compasses, GPS and so many other tools for extending the human senses so we can detect things as never before.
Which One To Choose?
The one that is the most helpful in the moment, is the one you should choose. If you have a clear picture of where you want to go, you start with the paradigm that will help you detect the road blocks. Then you use the paradigm that helps you to get past the most immediate road block. Then you use the paradigm that helps you to reorient yourself, so that you know where ‘forward’ is. then you use a firm paradigm as a guide to keep checking that your direction is aligned. Then you bump into something, use the paradigm of road block detection and go on from there.
If you find a better, more functional tool – try it out. All the while, enjoying the view through your rose colored glasses.