Surrounded by those we don't perceive

NO, IT’S NOT ABOUT GHOSTS, ETs, or aliens.

But to be direct, this article flies in the face of those who believe that what we perceive is all that exists. Or to say the least, it proves that that philosophy (empiricism) is problematic.

Under the subtitle “There is More Going on than our Senses Perceive,” the best-seller book Life 101 (pages 45, 47) explains how limited our five senses are in knowing what are out there to be known. Without being metaphysically technical, it explains that there’s a problem if “we start believing that what we perceive is all there is to be perceived.” In a conversational manner, the book elucidates the point, thus:

            “This is disturbing news to those who believe, ‘If I can’t see it, taste it, smell it, hear it or feel it, forget it.’

            If we were to tell you that, right now, there are hundreds of voices, pictures and songs filling the air around you, but you are unable to see or hear any of them, what would you think?

            Would you think we were talking some metaphysical mumbo jumbo? ‘If there were hundreds of voices, pictures and songs around me, I’d be able to at least see or hear some of them.’

            Not necessarily.

            ‘Then your explanation’s going to be pretty weird.’

            Not necessarily that, either.

            ‘Okay, so explain.’

            Right now you are surrounded by waves of energy…

            ‘Sounds pretty weird already.’

            …that are used to transmit radio, television, walkie-talkie, CB, portable telephone and many other communication devices. The reason you don’t know they’re there is because your senses are unable to perceive these signals.

            If you had a TV, however, you could use it to tune in these ‘waves of energy’. The TV would translate what your senses cannot perceive into what they can. The fact that we can’t see, hear or feel these waves without a TV doesn’t mean they’re not there. They are, we’re just not able to perceive them.

            And thus it is with all sorts of natural and human-made phenomena. If we have the proper instruments, we can perceive them. If not, we are mostly unaware of their existence.

            Dogs smell and hear better than most humans. Cats see better in the dark. Birds are more sensitive to movement. Even flies seem to ‘know’ when you’re about to swat them.”

The point of the discussion, according to the book itself, “is a simple one: there is more to life than meets the eye.” We could not agree more.

How to cite this article:

“Surrounded by those we don’t perceive.” @ www.OurHappySchool.com