Not Art

I’ve spent every morning this week at a corporate training session. As fun as it sounds, the material which was presented was actually very good. One of the techniques that was presented deals with separating “fact” from “perceptions.” In the workbook accompanying the training was the following statement which explained the principle “Seek the Truth.”

Don’t Look to Disprove...Instead of listening to others to learn more about their concerns, we’re listening to disprove them ...
Look for the part that is True ...Much of what they are saying is based on what is true, or at least what they think is true. Look for this truth…

Art

Compare the statement above to what was written by Elihu Vedder (posted recently on this site).

See how the wily Doubter tries
To prove the world is full of Lies,
Ignoring the overwhelming proof
That it is also full of Truth.

Why is One Art and the Other Not?

The same good ideas are discussed, the first in the specific context of corporate training. The main principle/problem is that we all tend to look for the Lies, and we seem to ignore the truth. We are taught by both examples that we should seek Truth rather than seeking to disprove. One does so in a corporate, matter of fact and very un-artful way. The second example form Elihu Vedder does so in beautiful verse, which turns the same idea into “Art.”