There is a thought experiment that goes like this,
As you explain further that the ball has a thin white stripe of rubberish stuff that goes over the surface of the object without cutting itself, the listener will create a white strip on his mental image that with high probability will differ from that on a tennis ball. So as you keep on explaining the listener will keep on imagining and creating based on what he thinks is the correct representation.
So the whole process can be divided into 3 parts, the object itself, the way you explain it and they way listener reconstructs it. In light of the third part, it is very obvious that if there were 2 or 3 listeners then they all will have different reconstructions in their minds. The way you explain it is also very important. Suppose you forget to tell (or may be choose not to tell) that the object is hollow from inside, then absence of this fact will lead to a totally different understanding of the object by the listener.
Up till now it has been very obvious explanation. Lets take it to the next level, what if the object also chooses to hide its true nature(for example if the object were a chameleon and the box was of green color, you will never know that the object can change its color unless you put him in some other colored box). then from the start itself whatever you tell can be wrong all along. This raises yet another question, "Is our understanding of this world complete or are we missing something important?"
Every time there is a mismatch between what is explained and what is understood the amount of error between true and perceived nature increases. The only way to reduce this error is to show the listener the object, let him touch and let him understand the object himself, thus reducing the margin of error. But this might also not be possible every time specially in case you can not comprehend the object in your five senses.
So not drifting away from the title of the post lets take a turn towards the human nature. What if I tell you that each one of us is carrying such a box full of objects others have never seen. That box is your mind and the objects are sadness, happiness, remorse, frustration, love and so on. So lets say you love someone and telling that person how much you love him. The other person can only imagine or relate to whats actually happening inside your head . He can relate it to the love he had for someone else, or for you. He can only estimate the love by comparing it to the maximum love he ever experienced. May be he has experienced more love than you are experiencing for him.
Suppose you cut your hand and the severe pain you are feeling is clear from your face even then the others can only relate. No one can understand what you are exactly going through. I recently saw a video in which a woman deaf since childhood was operated and heard a sound for the first time, her own voice for the first time. Noone can understand the feeling she is having, we can only relate. So my point is,
Thanks for reading. :)
Suppose there are 2 individuals each given a box. Each one of these boxes contain an object that none of them has ever seen. Each individual can see whats inside his box but not inside other person's box. Now they are asked to describe their object to each other without actually showing it. Now the question is, Is the description given by the owner sufficient for the complete understanding of the object by the listener?As you are not supposed to show the object to the other person so you will have to explain the nature of that object verbally. Just for the sake of explanation lets suppose that object is a tennis ball. You will explain that the object is of spherical shape, green colored and of the size of a cricket ball. The listener will start imagining, he will try to relate whatever you tell to his past experiences. He will possibly create an image in his mind of a spherical shape that will closely match the cricket ball.
As you explain further that the ball has a thin white stripe of rubberish stuff that goes over the surface of the object without cutting itself, the listener will create a white strip on his mental image that with high probability will differ from that on a tennis ball. So as you keep on explaining the listener will keep on imagining and creating based on what he thinks is the correct representation.
So the whole process can be divided into 3 parts, the object itself, the way you explain it and they way listener reconstructs it. In light of the third part, it is very obvious that if there were 2 or 3 listeners then they all will have different reconstructions in their minds. The way you explain it is also very important. Suppose you forget to tell (or may be choose not to tell) that the object is hollow from inside, then absence of this fact will lead to a totally different understanding of the object by the listener.
Up till now it has been very obvious explanation. Lets take it to the next level, what if the object also chooses to hide its true nature(for example if the object were a chameleon and the box was of green color, you will never know that the object can change its color unless you put him in some other colored box). then from the start itself whatever you tell can be wrong all along. This raises yet another question, "Is our understanding of this world complete or are we missing something important?"
Every time there is a mismatch between what is explained and what is understood the amount of error between true and perceived nature increases. The only way to reduce this error is to show the listener the object, let him touch and let him understand the object himself, thus reducing the margin of error. But this might also not be possible every time specially in case you can not comprehend the object in your five senses.
So not drifting away from the title of the post lets take a turn towards the human nature. What if I tell you that each one of us is carrying such a box full of objects others have never seen. That box is your mind and the objects are sadness, happiness, remorse, frustration, love and so on. So lets say you love someone and telling that person how much you love him. The other person can only imagine or relate to whats actually happening inside your head . He can relate it to the love he had for someone else, or for you. He can only estimate the love by comparing it to the maximum love he ever experienced. May be he has experienced more love than you are experiencing for him.
Suppose you cut your hand and the severe pain you are feeling is clear from your face even then the others can only relate. No one can understand what you are exactly going through. I recently saw a video in which a woman deaf since childhood was operated and heard a sound for the first time, her own voice for the first time. Noone can understand the feeling she is having, we can only relate. So my point is,
Most of us often don't understand the loneliness we are carrying within.You must be wondering, why write a long post just to increase loneliness? Well, after all its a conversation I never had. ;)
Thanks for reading. :)
cinh
One of the conversations I never had.
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owner_cinh Thought Experiment
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