With the consideration of the relationship between being right or wrong, let us now press onwards to consider the actual process by which one’s perspective, opinion or theory is deemed right or wrong. Before any such concept held is approved or rejected it undergoes a process of scrutiny and the concepts observed are evaluated by certain criteria. Indeed, the quality of the concept being observed is estimated and established throughout this process, the success of which depending upon the quality of the scrutiny itself.

While such seems rather obvious one appreciates that sometimes it is the more obvious things that tend to slip us by, incorporated within a routine that bypasses conscious thought. What is less obvious however is that the quality of the scrutiny applied to any given concept and the internalization and adaptation to such scrutiny ultimately plays a direct role in determining the overall quality of the concept to emerge tested.

A suited analogy here is the context of an unfinished sword and a forge. In the creation of a battle-worthy blade one may perceive three factors that are of significant importance and directly affect the creation process.

Firstly one has the bar of iron, itself representing the potential that could be. The bar is considered to be a raw resource and has yet to take form. Flaws and impurities might exist within the iron itself, representing the inherent flaws and hence limitations.

Secondly one has the forge, representing the arena of scrutiny (of both human and physical realities that such represents) and also the environment. Through this scrutiny the raw iron softens as the scrutiny has a similarly melting effect upon ideas. A forge too cold sets limitations upon the development of concepts while a forge too hot threatens to annihilate the concept altogether, or hindering their development through discouragement.

Thirdly one has the the artisan who presents the concept to the forge. It is through their skills, tools, perception and vision that the softened iron takes form even as gravity pulls upon its molten state. The good artisan knows his iron and his forge and knows how to make use of the circumstances to their best effect. He also knows when to seal the ministration of his efforts with the hiss of the blade cooling in water. Of course, an artisan without a forge cannot very well craft a piece of iron while an artisan with forge but no iron is an artisan without purpose.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 13th, 2007 at 6:18 pm and is filed under A matter of perspective. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.