Is there a corridor?

[Tatsumaru]

I am doing a Philosophy A level at the moment in the UK and there is a person in my class who has ruined my brain.

His favourite question is "is there still a corridor after we close the door on it, or has it ceased to exist until we open the door again?"

I guess its just a variation of the tree falling in the wood question but it has gone from annoying to puzzling to confusing and back to annoying in my head. somebody enlighten me quick!!

[David]

I have no idea!

Leave someone in the corridor when you close the door. Ask them through the closed door what they see :D.

[Paratus]

When you're first playing peek-aboo with a baby when you cover your eyes they think you're gone, are you?

[nzric]

Does the world cease to exist when you die??

Of course not - that kind of thinking is biased. Of course there's a corridor. There's a world, and a tree making vibrations (that could be interpreted as sound) in the forest.

We don't have to be here. We're just a recording/interpreting mechanism for the world that exists whether we do or not.

"You are not special.
You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake.
You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else."

[semphoon]

Originally posted by nzric


"You are not special.
You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake.
You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else."

Is that from fightclub?

[Disciple]

The whole corrido thing is interesting b/c the entire world truely could revolve around you and exsistance is only for you, but wait it isnt.... why? bc I, that is to say ME, is the cetner of the universe. lol.

"if a tree falls infront of me and it doesn't make a sound, do I exist?

[toothpaste100]

When you close the fridge door, is the light still on?

[Tireces]

Alright, I tested this with my brother. I had him stand in a hallway, and then I closed the door. So then I called through it and asked if it was all still there, and he said it was. So, looks like thats settled.

[Tatsumaru]

i think you missed the deep and profound philosophical point here Tireces! How do you know that your bedroom (for example) still exists while the two of you are in the corridor and adjacent room. Toothpaste and Disciple get it though, the fridge door thing, very good. What i was trying to say is how does anybody know that everything that happens is not centered purely around them. Kinda like the truman show but a lot less rubbish!

[semphoon]

Surely a friendly letter to the refridgerator manufacturer/designer could solve the the philosophical debate over the fridge light question.

:D

[YODA]

Schroedinger's Cat: "Meow meow"

[Paratus]

If no one has ever noticed, there is a little switch along the door frame of the fridge, if you press it the light goes off, release it the light goes on, so when the door is closed and pressing on the switch the light is off, when the door is open the switch is released, and the light is on.

Problem solved, the light IS off when you close the door :rolleyes:

[David]

This 'problem' is akin to the one-hand clapping Zen exercise. It's a mental doorway to another perceptive perspective. Your friend's mind is stuck in that doorway ;).

OM MANI PADME HUM

:)

[YODA]

Originally posted by David
This 'problem' is akin to the one-hand clapping Zen exercise. It's a mental doorway to another perceptive perspective. Your friend's mind is stuck in that doorway ;).

OM MANI PADME HUM

:)

Hmmmm.... Padme :love: :love: :love:

[toothpaste100]

Originally posted by Paratus
If no one has ever noticed, there is a little switch along the door frame of the fridge, if you press it the light goes off, release it the light goes on, so when the door is closed and pressing on the switch the light is off, when the door is open the switch is released, and the light is on.

Problem solved, the light IS off when you close the door :rolleyes:

But did you check when its closed ;)

What i was trying to say is how does anybody know that everything that happens is not centered purely around them. Kinda like the truman show but a lot less rubbish!

Perhaps the universe is centered around someone on the other side of the world that I have never met before. I am given the illusion of free will and am allowed to do what I wish because that is what is necessary to shape the destiny of this one person; either that or you are all robots being controlled by a bald producer living in the sky and I'm on tv right now.

[Poop-Loops]

Originally posted by nzric
"You are not special.
You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake.
You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else."

http://us.st5.yimg.com/store4.yimg.com/I/demotivators_1771_2817591

PL

[Tireces]

Originally posted by Tatsumaru
i think you missed the deep and profound philosophical point here Tireces! How do you know that your bedroom (for example) still exists while the two of you are in the corridor and adjacent room. Toothpaste and Disciple get it though, the fridge door thing, very good. What i was trying to say is how does anybody know that everything that happens is not centered purely around them. Kinda like the truman show but a lot less rubbish!

Deep philosophical point? People have been asking doofy questions like this since history seems able to recount (one hand clapping, tree falling, blah blah). What have these questions done to benefit anyone? Nothing, except instigate some to waste their time debating them.

[nzric]

Tireces - could you please shut your brother in your fridge and get back to us about the light question? :)

Oh, yep, the quote is from fight club (all hail Tyler Durden)

[YODA]

Originally posted by Tireces
Nothing, except instigate some to waste their time debating them.


Mass debating is NEVER a waste of time.

[Shade]

Mass debating is NEVER a waste of time.

Out of all the people who could have come up with that, only you could 'pull it off' :D

[YODA]

Ain't it da truth :D

[Serpico]

Originally posted by YODA
Mass debating is NEVER a waste of time.

It made me the man I am today (blind) ;)


Originally posted by Tireces
Alright, I tested this with my brother. I had him stand in a hallway, and then I closed the door. So then I called through it and asked if it was all still there, and he said it was. So, looks like thats settled.

A fair answer to be sure, and great example of different peoples different philosophies on life.

I like this version on the question: If a tree falls on a mime in the middle of the woods, and no one is around to hear him scream, does anyone care?

[Kwajman]

But after you give the answer, is it still relevent after you close your mouth....

[Furikuchan]

I believe the question has to do with pathways in your life.
In choosing to pursue the martial arts, you have given up the opportunity to spend that time and talent on other things, such as music or art. The doors on those other talents have been shut. Those paths and corridors, however, are not gone to you. You must simply choose to divert your time and open the door.

[Virtuous]

Originally posted by YODA
Schroedinger's Cat: "Meow meow"

You read my mind

[KenpoDavid]

Originally posted by Tatsumaru
i think you missed the deep and profound philosophical point here Tireces! How do you know that your bedroom (for example) still exists while the two of you are in the corridor and adjacent room.

Well, I think you missed it too, slightly. How do you know your borther exists? The question is, "how do you know that anything outside yourself exists". Not, "if nobody is looking at it does it go away".

That is "is there anyone to look, is there anything to look at". I don't think the philosophers who developed this line of questioning really thought that the universe might be a figment of their imaginiation... but trying to find an answer to the question "how do I know that everything I perceive is not a figment of my imagination" is a very worth-while exercise IF you are interested in developing your mind.

[47Ronin]

Think of it this way, does life cease to exist when you die???

[Kwajman]

No, all life ends as we know it......maybe.

[Furikuchan]

The world does cease to exist when you die.
Let me rephrase: YOUR world ceases to exist when you die. To your perception, yes, the world goes away when you leave it, because your own experience is your only frame of reference. Just my thought on that side of the argument.

[khafra]

<----------- 2nd person solipsist

[Grifter]

How can you be sure anything exsist to begin with?? Maybe that corridor wasnt really there when you were in it. Maybe that light isnt even in the fridge. You cant be 100% sure of anyhting except the fact that you exsist.
"I think, therefore I am."- I believe Plato said that

[nzric]

Descartes dude :)

[Zamfoo]

But "existance" itself is a relative thing so when it is not seen does it exist or not?

[nzric]

Zamfoo - the question is even if it IS seen does it exist? What about the reality of optical illusions, magic tricks, hallucinations...

[Zamfoo]

Yeah. Life is a big trip. I figure we should live it instead of spending years cooping up thinking about if it matters or exists. ditto on the cat-in-the-box comment tho :-)

[Tireces]

Originally posted by nzric
Tireces - could you please shut your brother in your fridge and get back to us about the light question?

I tried, but something in there turned him blue for some reason, and he wasnt talking anymore! The mystery remains...

Originally posted by YODA
Mass debating is NEVER a waste of time.

Pftt, says you, mister one hand clapping.

[Saz]

Originally posted by Tireces
I tried, but something in there turned him blue for some reason, and he wasnt talking anymore! The mystery remains...


Maybe he found out the answer to this thread, is in shock and can't speak. Or maybe you should have chucked the 3 week old milk before you locked him in there :)

Also, who on earth is Schroedinger, and what's his cat got to do with anything?

[Tireces]

Originally posted by Kgirl
Maybe he found out the answer to this thread, is in shock and can't speak. Or maybe you should have chucked the 3 week old milk before you locked him in there :)


Pfft, milk doesnt last 3 DAYS in my house.

[Serpico]

Originally posted by Tireces

Pftt, Pftt
sounds like you've sprung a leak

http://www.tiredefects.com/images/puncture_seal.jpg ;)

[Tireces]

Originally posted by Serpico
sounds like you've sprung a leak

http://www.tiredefects.com/images/puncture_seal.jpg ;)

psh.

[ap Oweyn]

Originally posted by Tatsumaru
i think you missed the deep and profound philosophical point here Tireces! How do you know that your bedroom (for example) still exists while the two of you are in the corridor and adjacent room. Toothpaste and Disciple get it though, the fridge door thing, very good. What i was trying to say is how does anybody know that everything that happens is not centered purely around them. Kinda like the truman show but a lot less rubbish!

One of my earliest philosophy professors in college told us on the first day of class, "philosophy is mental masturbation."

He's right to an extent.

Take this question for example. It's entertaining precisely because there's no satisfactory answer. We could debate it ad nauseum. Thankfully, people are instead taking the opportunity to tell some very funny jokes.

Philosophical 'exercises' like this are fun but they lead nowhere. Observe:

You: "Does the corridor exist after we close the door on it?"
Me: "Yep, it's still there." (alternatively "No. It disappears.")
You: "How can I know that's true?"
Me: "Because I told you it's true."
You: "But how do I know you exist?"
Me: "You're talking to me aren't you?"
You: "I only know that based on my own perceptions. If my perceptions are flawed, I have no way of verifying that I am indeed talking to you. 'You' might just be a fragment of my imagination. Or a hallucination. There could only be Me."
Me: "Oh. Bugger."

So look your classmate squarely in the eye, punch him just as squarely in the jumblies, and ask him whether it hurts. When he says "yes" (or some variant thereof) shut the door and assume he's fine.


Stuart

[Tatsumaru]

Cheers stuart, i think you have made an invaluable contribution to my constant struggle against irritating philosophical questions!

P.S. Descartes really did waste his life...

[ap Oweyn]

No worries Tatsumaru.

Lessons well learned from rooming with a philosophy major in college. :)

[Grifter]

Originally posted by nzric
Descartes dude :)

Thanks. I have a bad memory and didnt want to look it up.

[CKava]

Also, who on earth is Schroedinger, and what's his cat got to do with anything?Schroedingers cat is a name for a quantum physics paradox which you could (rather inaccurately) describe as being to do with different realities which relate to whether a thing is being observered or not, existing at the same time- in that particular case to a cat who is both living and dead simultaneously (in a quantum physics sense at least).