Oh, ok. In that case, I’ll try to break the problem down a bit. What does “separate universes” mean, exactly? Your friend seems to be saying that people leave “your universe” when you can’t see them, but in what sense are they actually leaving your plane of existence? Also, what is different about “your” universe versus someone else’s? And how is it that two or more universes can “communicate” and overlap when the people in them can see each other? And does it have to be eyesight? What about talking to someone on the phone?
For these reasons and many others that I neglected to list, I don’t think the idea that everyone occupies their own universe is at all coherent. It’s grammatically correct, but the concept just doesn’t make sense.
Adding to that, I think the concepts are identical in all their meaning and implications, leaving there to be no actual difference that can be made.
If what the friend says is true, there’s also no reason why the presence of the mother is proof of her existence, for we could easily entertain solipsism.
It is not because you don’t understand. It’s because you took action based on that understanding that was useful. It both got you more explanation due to Tetronian’s willingness to explain and also provided some evidence about how obvious the concept is for people in general.
I don’t just vote on stuff as a way to reward social or intellectual impressiveness.
I think The Simple Truth, from the Map and Territory sequence has the answer to your question. It addresses this exact argument, in fact.
I’ve already read that, and I still don’t understand.
Oh, ok. In that case, I’ll try to break the problem down a bit. What does “separate universes” mean, exactly? Your friend seems to be saying that people leave “your universe” when you can’t see them, but in what sense are they actually leaving your plane of existence? Also, what is different about “your” universe versus someone else’s? And how is it that two or more universes can “communicate” and overlap when the people in them can see each other? And does it have to be eyesight? What about talking to someone on the phone?
For these reasons and many others that I neglected to list, I don’t think the idea that everyone occupies their own universe is at all coherent. It’s grammatically correct, but the concept just doesn’t make sense.
Adding to that, I think the concepts are identical in all their meaning and implications, leaving there to be no actual difference that can be made.
If what the friend says is true, there’s also no reason why the presence of the mother is proof of her existence, for we could easily entertain solipsism.
Agreed.
Whoever thumbed up my comment about not understanding.… Why?
XD If someone doesn’t understand something, I’m not going to slap them on the back and tell them “Good job.”
It is not because you don’t understand. It’s because you took action based on that understanding that was useful. It both got you more explanation due to Tetronian’s willingness to explain and also provided some evidence about how obvious the concept is for people in general.
I don’t just vote on stuff as a way to reward social or intellectual impressiveness.