Pascal bet on that too

Blaise Pascal   (1691 painting by Francois II Quesnel) 

Known for his famous wager, Blaise Pascal was all about emphasizing the positive.  He not only bet on God, but also on people.

Pascal believed that the best way to change another’s stance is to first focus upon points of agreement.  If you begin by acknowledging what’s reasonable about an opinion that sharply differs from your own, you might be met with a surprising amount of willingness to hash things out.

Centuries ago, this polymath realized that people don’t mind being corrected for failing to view the whole picture.  After all, no one person is capable of “seeing everything.”  If you begin by affirming what they have seen, then chances of successfully introducing other perspectives are greatly enhanced.

Resources

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/a-philosopher-s-350-year-old-trick-to-get-people-to-change-their-minds-is-now-backed-up-by?utm_source=pocket-newtab

Copyright April 15, 2021 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved