[extropy-chat] A vignette on incongruent points of view

[Colin Geoffrey Hales]

> Two friends went to the ocean and later talked about their day.  The
> first man talked about the wonderful feeling of the wind and the spray,
> exploring the fascinating tide pools, sea life and shells, and how he
> felt great joy in the experience bringing him such a feeling of being
> alive.  He'd felt a bit concerned though, that his friend seemed almost
> as if he wasn't even there.  The second man replied that he had reveled
> in the experience; that it stimulated thoughts of  the power and
> immensity of the ocean in ironic contrast to the puny conceits of
> humankind, the realization that this great body of water both separated
> and connected the various peoples of the world, and how it provided the
> catalyst not only for biological life, but for the growth of culture and
> commerce.  The first man thought "wtf?" and felt great pity for his
> friend.
>
> Is it possible to bridge such a gap in understanding of each other's
> point of view?
>
> Is there some way to show the the second man that he's living only a
> shallow imitation of a life?
>
> Oops, I meant the first man.
>
> - Jef

Like two isotopes of carbon.... which one is the 'real' carbon?

One lives in qualia.
The other lives in concepts and abstractions from qualia.

Personally I like them both. :-)

Colin