All 5 Uses

perspective
in
Snow Falling on Cedars
(Auto-generated)

I want to ask you — I'm asking you again — from the perspective of a man who has been fishing for thirty years, from the perspective of the gill-netters association president — a man who presumably hears about almost everything that happens out there on the sea at night — would you, sir, consider this a good plan?†
Chpt 26 *

perspective = a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
He could not help but possess this unhappy perspective, no matter how much he might not want it.†
Chpt 4
To persevere was always a reflection of the state of one's inner life, one's philosophy, and one's perspective.†
Chpt 14
Nonetheless, from Ishmael's perspective this inclement weather should not be allowed to overshadow the trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, which was an affair of a different sort entirely and of a greater magnitude.†
Chpt 22
I want to ask you — I'm asking you again — from the perspective of a man who has been fishing for thirty years, from the perspective of the gill-netters association president — a man who presumably hears about almost everything that happens out there on the sea at night — would you, sir, consider this a good plan?†
Chpt 26

Definitions:

(1) (perspective as in: Look at it from her perspective)
a particular way of seeing or thinking about things
(2) (perspective as in: Keep it in perspective)
a sensible view of a situation that considers its different parts in a balanced way
(3) (perspective as in: perspective in art)
giving a 2-dimensional picture a 3-dimensional appearance by making parts that are farther away look smaller than things that are close; OR a picture drawn in such a manner
(4) (perspective as in: a perspective of the entire block)
a view -- often stressing that the view is different from a view from another location
(5) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
Less commonly, in classic literature, perspective glass or perspectives can refer to a small telescope. More specialized senses of perspective are found in geometry, sound engineering, and philosophy. Consult a comprehensive dictionary if you wish to see those. All the common senses have to do with the way something is viewed.