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