We are continuosly preoccupied being "I". Locked up in our echo chambers, stuck behind our eyes we find it difficult seeing the world from different angles in order to integrate our opinions, world-views and actions into the big picture.
The successes and failures of others. Their positive traits as well as their shortcomings. Their victories and especially their defeats could provide those new angles which help us gain insights, not just into those we study but effectively into ourselves.