Aristippus’ Code: on the importance of breadth of knowledge
Centuries-old wisdom
The ancient Greek philosopher Aristippus of Cyrene and his wisdom represent a starting point, a benchmark for people who want to achieve material well-being, intellectual peaks and financial security.
The Aristippus’ Code is an invaluable gift of the ancient philosopher to all modern people. In the collection of 24 wise guidelines, the most important principles for nurturing a comprehensively developed and harmonious personality are concisely and orderly outlined.
Guideline I — THE BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE
Aristippus of Cyrene: “Be able to accept different points of view and ideas.”
Awareness, knowledge, erudition, ability to accept the judgments of other people — all of it constitutes the breadth of knowledge.
This guideline is very important for the modern world, because quite often different people look at the same event or phenomenon from different perspectives. Sometimes it is difficult to reach an agreement. A person with a broad outlook seeks to understand other people. Such a person adheres to his/her own opinion, yet at the same time recognizes the right of the interlocutor to have a different worldview and is ready to understand the point of view of another person. This valuable skill allows to constantly improve a knowledge base, broaden horizons and find a common language with the environment a lot easier.
Behind-the-scenes conflict
Let’s review a relevant example. The American cinema chain AMC was unwilling to recognize an alternative possibility for showing films — online streaming. Even as theaters closed due to the pandemic in 2020 and the company suffered huge losses, AMC continued to require film studios to show movies in theaters first before making them available online.
When Universal Pictures announced its desire to simultaneously release its premieres both in theaters and on streaming services, AMC management threatened to stop buying licenses to show its films. As a result, both parties lost the opportunity to receive income due to a simple unwillingness to understand the position of the interlocutor. A month later, AMC openly announced the impending threat of bankruptcy.
THE LACK OF BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE MAKES COOPERATION AND JOINT BUSINESS IMPOSSIBLE.
Every day you communicate with clients and partners in business. Every one of them has its own characteristics, experience and personality. Admit it, if one person refuses to understand the point of view of another, endlessly argues, criticizes and interrupts, then communication will be compromised. People would want to distance themselves from such an interlocutor and cut off all the communication.
So, when faced with the risk of a downfall, AMC started negotiations with Universal. Each of the parties helped the interlocutor look at the problem from its own perspective and decided to accept an alternative point of view.
Having realized that their interests (to provide viewers with film premieres in various convenient formats and make a profit) coincided, the parties were able to reach an agreement.
A path to understanding
To think in broad terms, a person needs to have the following abilities:
- Desire and willingness to accept the beliefs or behaviors of other people who think differently.
- Desire and readiness to consider non-standard opinions and practices.
- Tolerance towards different views of other people.
In the photo: the one who can accept a different point of view and understand the logic of the other side will always find a way out of the conflict. If people listen carefully to each other, exchange opinions and experiences, they enjoy the dialogue. Such a contact is always fruitful and sincere.
THE BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE MAKES PLEASANT AND INTERESTING COMMUNICATION, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL COOPERATION AND JOINT BUSINESS POSSIBLE.
An individual with a broad outlook is a people person, an interesting interlocutor who always finds relevant topics for conversation. Communicating with such a person is always a pleasant, useful and exciting experience.
Such a person can quickly and effectively respond to changing environmental conditions, while providing maximum support to his/her loved ones and the surroundings. A comprehensively developed personality is able to find a way out even from a situation that seems hopeless.
That’s why it is so important to bear the first guideline from the Aristippus’ Code in mind and strictly follow it:
“Be able to accept different points of view and ideas.”
Read also:
Formula of wealth and success: Aristippus’ Code
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