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During the month of August, it always seems unbearable to engage in strenuous work, perhaps influenced by my childhood years in Paris. This is a time for slowing down, introspection, and focusing on being rather than doing. It may even involve confronting and resolving conflicts with loved ones, as these moments can be significant as well.
However, August also presents an opportunity for exploration; a chance to break free from our comfort zones and immerse ourselves in new and unfamiliar experiences. For me, the most enriching vacations involve not only indulgent pleasure but also immersing myself in different cultures and perspectives that I don’t usually encounter.
This is a precious gift in our divided and hyper-connected society, where we rarely have genuine interactions outside our narrow social, cultural, or ideological circles. While we may engage in performative arguments on social media, truly understanding someone’s perspective, especially if it contradicts our own, is often disregarded.
Without engaging with diverse individuals, it becomes challenging to develop true empathy. Of course, we can show compassion towards those we perceive as morally righteous, especially when it aligns with our interests. However, there tends to be significant resistance beyond that point.
So, while a left-leaning liberal may exhibit empathy towards a displaced Ukrainian family, they may struggle to extend the same compassion towards a young Russian soldier or a member of the Conservative party. In fact, a survey conducted in 2019 by Opinium and the London School of Economics revealed that 68% of Labour voters expressed “disgust” towards Conservative voters, and vice versa for Tories.
You might argue that it’s unnecessary to feel empathy for those on the “wrong” side of history or invest emotional energy in understanding views considered objectionable or counterproductive to societal progress. However, it is indeed worthwhile. Attempting to comprehend why individuals hold views we find reprehensible or irrational is crucial.
When confronted with conflicting accounts, journalists are trained to go beyond reporting the words spoken. Instead, they look out the window and observe the truth for themselves. In a similar vein, I’m more interested in understanding why someone insists it’s raining when the evidence suggests otherwise.
If we are unwilling to consider alternate perspectives, regardless of how ludicrous or morally questionable they may seem, we will never bridge the divisions that weaken our democracies and taint our discourse. When we put ourselves in another person’s shoes, we often discover that their differing perspective is rooted in a distinct set of values, not a lack of humanity.
This phenomenon is explored in Jonathan Haidt’s book The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion. Haidt explains how people align with political factions that share moral narratives, becoming blind to alternative moral worlds once they adopt a specific narrative.
We can combat this blindness by dedicating time to immerse ourselves in these alternative worlds. It doesn’t require an extravagant vacation; often, we can find people leading remarkably different lives nearby. Even reading literature can broaden our worldview and foster open-mindedness, as studies have shown.
So, the next time you catch yourself saying, “I just don’t understand how anyone could think [fill in the blank],” take it as a sign that you need a new approach. While you may not always agree with what you discover, the challenge of understanding diverse perspectives should extend beyond the summer and become a lifelong pursuit.
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