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.

The Problem with Empiricism

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.

Holism vs Empiricism

This is also related to a topic in Philosohy about HOLISM. A holistic perspective states that a limited standpoint does not possess the monopoly of truth. Instead, it holds that while one’s personal take about something may be true, it may not be the absolute truth, for others’ take on the same matter may also be true.

On the other hand, a partial perspective centers on just some aspects of the whole in such a way that the whole is overlooked or discounted. Also, it tends to consider the perceiving subject the basis of truth. A partial point of view is founded on the component part or parts of a whole, thus, an incomplete perspective.

Unlike the partial point of view, holism as an approach widens one’s comprehension of reality by taking into account other possible causal agents or factors that are fundamentally pertinent to a phenomenon. In the midst of so many explanatory frameworks and theories, holism advocates suspending one’s partial and subjective take on things and prefers considering what others believe.

Philosophy encourages the attainment of a holistic perspective. Philosophy avoids being one dimensional or partial, and philosophers do not limit their investigation to a particular object or inquiry, instead, they employ the multidimensional or holistic approach. But philosophical holism does not necessarily mean merely discarding one’s own perspective and saying yes to others’ points of view. Rather, it promotes comparing one’s view with those of other thinkers to come up with a more holistic standpoint.

How to cite this article:

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

 

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Comments

This article teach me how to understand things that are unable to see but we give importance. We believe though we do not see it. We learn to appreciate them even they are not physically exist. I think its moral significance is to accept the fact that not all things that we do not see should not believe in rather have faith in it. Just like how we faith God though he do not physically exist in this world but he exist in our heart.

I totally agree with the author's insights on this article. Yes, some people may say that some information or data regarding certain mysteries or queries in this world are far more convincing if they were supported by such evidence which they can actually perceive by their senses. However, if we would really just rely on our five senses to verify certain statements or theories, then, it's like we are closing our minds and we're limiting the possibilities in discovering the truths of life. We should also take into consideration the term "FAITH" and "TRUST". Faith, as defined, is the confident belief or trust in the truth or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true.It is the belief and the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, based on his or her authority and truthfulness (wikipedia.com) Now, if you would ask me why faith is in the picture, I will also answer you with this question, if we would only believe on what we could only see, hear, taste, smell or feel, then would that also mean that we should NOT believe that GOD truly exist? That's the reason why I am also in the affirmative that there is more to life than meets the eye. We only have our faith that God truly exist and we have the TRUST that He sees and knows our every action.

This piece of writing teaches us on how to appreciate things that are not capable to perceive but we grant value, we consider even though we cannot see. We attain knowledge and value them even if they are not actually being a real one. I think its ethical sense is to agree to the truth that not all things that we do not see should not accept as true in a bit have belief into it.

There are things in this life that may not be perceived by our senses, yet, their manifestations can be obviously seen, heard or felt.Like love, or faith, their manifestations, themselves, prove that these things really exist in this life. And oftentimes, these imperceivable things are the most valuable things in one's life.

this article talks about the things that don't really exist but tends to be exist because of other reason. For me, not all we believe is true but it will just become true because of some aspects.

Almost all people believe in what they see as it is supported by their five senses but there were also things that people believe into without using their senses. People may not see that God is present but His work speaks as He answers our prayers and so with faith and hope that can't be seen but is existing in the reality of life.

i agree with the authors point of view.its true that some people only believes on the things that they see and believe in the things that was proven and supported with evidences.

"There is more to life than meets the eye". That's the point of this article. We believe in all we see that is true and also we must believe in the powers of our feeling's or any subject that it is appreciated.

"There is more to life than meets the eye". That's the point of this article. We believe in all we see that is true and also we must believe in the powers of our feeling's or any subject that it is appreciated.

The article simply implies that "There is more to life than meets the eye", it means that we have to search beyond what we see. Is it possible to believe in God in the modern era of scientific discovery? Why?

YES!!! because Proving God’s existence has nothing to do with modern era of scientific discovery.

Yes .. I find them entirely contrary.. because it has nothing to do with the modern era. Jesus says in John 8:24, "For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." In order to do the will of the Father, we must believe in God and in Christ, otherwise we will die in our sins and be lost. If we don't believe in God and in Christ, we will certainly not do what They tell us. If God is to be believed at all, He must be believed fully. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." We must diligently seek to know all that God wants us to do and then gladly do it.

Yes, it is possible to believe in God in the modern era of scientific discovery. Because any era to comes, our faith and believe with God will never last. There are 2 kinds of faith the human faith (taste, hear, smell, or feel; it's limited to the five senses) that is inherent within every human being, and there is a supernatural faith (believe things that we cannot see example, We fly in airplanes when we don't fully understand how they work, and we don't know the pilot, but we trust that everything will be okay. That takes human faith, which God gave to every person.) Of God that only comes to those who receive the good news.

"there is more to life than meets the eye.” We could not agree more." I really like and agree on this statement, because we live most in our life, and we only live ONCE. "More than meets the eye" means the part of the story has not been told. Live life to the fullest, discover and explore more in our existing world of living and non-living things. ^__^

Almost all people believe in what they see but there were also things that people believe into without using their senses. What makes you think that there is more than meets the eye? Why?

Most of the people believe in what they see, but there were people believe without using their senses. What makes you think there is more than meet the eyes? and Why?

it not just about what you see and think of it but it is all about what is beyond of it that you can believe on it.

there's really more behind something that our senses could not even sense. Maybe, It is God's will that our senses could only have limited capabilities because he knew from the start what humans are capable of. According to a philosopher , " once human start thinking , He will never stop" . Besides , Only those who really work hard can witness everything behind individual's perception that can never be seen by our naked eye nor sense by our limited senses.

There is more to life than meets the eye because we humans kc are born to believe beyond in what our senses can perceive, and that is Faith. at ang Faith nmn it is often used as a substitute for hope, trust or belief that is not based on proof. katulad ng hangin.. hindi natin nakikta pero naniniwala tayo meron nito. and sa love hindi xa sakop ng five senses nten.. we cannot see, touch, smell, hear or taste but we can feel it. dba? sa religion nmn we believe that there is God that who creates everything even though hindi nmn sya nakikita pero sbi nga nila.. hindi lhat ng nakikita ay totoo.. pero hindi rin lahat ng hindi nakikita ng mata ay hindi na totoo. we believe what people want to beleive nmn

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