Learning from the enemy

If we are convinced that we are right, we may be forced to conclude that someone who voices a different view is wrong in all things. We are on the right side and he is on the wrong side; he is the enemy, to be conquer and wipe off the scene. Some say that this impulse is only human and cannot be helped. Yet we can actually learn quite a bit from whom we think are against us and stand in our way.

If he move this way, we will counter it that way; if he comes along that way, we’ll confront it this way. Faced with some adversary, we scheme and calculate to optimize our advantage. And gradually we progress. We think we are coming up with all these ideas on our own but in fact we are learning from our opponents. The prodding of the other makes us rack our brains and exercise our imaginations. Isn’t this learning from the enemy?

Simply destroying the enemy is pointless. If you destroy him you’ll have no one to learn from and you’ll make no progress. Rather you may find it useful to let a conflict of interests serve it purpose, each side learning from the other and both moving along the path to ward progress and improvement.

We should pursue a path of both conflict and harmony.

Konosuke Matsushita