Blog #4

Mason Jenkins

Mrs. Wilhelmus

AP English Language

4 August 2013

Kant and Perspective

            In the “Kant” chapter in Sophie’s World, Alberto makes Sophie do an experiment with red-tinted glasses.  She simply had to put the glasses on and explain what she saw.  She described what she saw as exactly the same, but everything was red.  The purpose of this experiment was to show that a person’s perspective of the world will be different than everyone else’s because of their experiences and knowledge.  The “color” that somebody sees is determined by their life and what they know. 

            After learning about the red-tinted glasses experiment, I realize that I see examples of Kant’s ideas every day.  For instance, I have always been taught math well and I easily understand most things.  Therefore, math is easy for me to do well in and I am very advanced.  So when my younger sister comes home with math homework and needs help, I quickly get aggravated and impatient with her when she doesn’t understand it.  To me, it is very simple and I feel like she should not need help with it.  That is because I have already learned that material and I know it.  She does not have the same mind as me, so she may have more trouble with math than I did.  She also may not have been taught the same way as me and she understands it differently. 

            Your perspective of the world also changes with different experiences.  I grew up with a full loving family where we always had everything we needed and more.  I never had to worry about anything and I was a little spoiled.  After coming to high school, I started to meet people that do not live the same way I do.  These kids, that are the same age as me, have only one parent that cannot always provide for them.  Therefore, the kid is forced to work very hard just to survive and help his family.  Their view of the world is completely different than mine.  The world around us did not change, but I now see that there are less fortunate people out there trying to live a better life.  So now I recognize these people and have more respect for them.