Response to Blog Post #3

If one person looks at an iPhone for what's on the screen and the other focuses on its processing power, is one of them looking at the phone from the right viewpoint? Are they both right? Neither? In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, the narrator describes classic and romantic modes of understanding as two conflicting outlooks that are "irreconcilable with each other" (80). Those of the classic mindset see underlying form and the function or meaning behind things that they see, and are more analytical thinkers. Romantic thinkers focus on appearance and use their intuition and raw feelings; a 'gut-reaction' complex.

I do not fully fit the romantic way of thinking. I generally refuse to rely on raw, unchecked emotion in my decision-making and I prefer to understand the meaning behind an idea or object before I put it to use. However, I also appreciate spontaneity, unabridged honesty, and the exotic.

That being said, the classic outlook applies to me only slightly more accurately. This is because I tend to take time to question the meaning or purpose of various aspects of society and to think. In fact, this leads me to a bad habit of over-thinking and over-analyzing at times. I enjoy functions pertinent to engineering, such as programming, for the final product and its function rather than the aesthetic of the project. On the other hand, I can't stand everyday life, a daily routine with no variation. The spontaneity and passion of a romantic mind appeals to me as well.

Though these two schools of thought are invariably different, they are not necessarily 'irreconcilable.' One can have a proverbial foot on either side of the line while maintaining sanity and cohesion in their lifestyle. In fact, those who tend to straddle said line could provide valuable insight to either side. They could serve as mediators between the ideologies, seeing the cause behind both and looking at the world from the perspective of others to provide for a more cohesive and coordinated society. The two sides are polar opposites, but they are also reconcilable through those who see the good in both.