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dmckeever's picture

Emily Dickinson...again

Ok, so in class today, Sarah played the devil’s advocate and challenged my “tree falls in the forest…” example based on perception and its effects. And, though I have not converted  to her  side, her thoughts did bring what I said into a new light—so maybe I am gathering  a new set of  observations to revamp my original argument…or maybe I am  just contemplating.  So, what Sarah said got me thinking: maybe, yes, I am on  the right track in saying that Eden exists whether I exist or not, because others are perceiving her; and that it is simply my perception of her that would not exist if I was not here to perceive  her as such.  But, this thought process lends itself to the idea that if my perception of Eden did not exist, then the Eden that here and now  exists would not—a part of her would be lost, that part that was part of me. And so in a sense (and through a convoluted thought process), Eden’s existence is very much dependent on those around her because our perceptions of her make her who she is.

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