Post 3

In my book Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar... on page 54-55 there is a joke discussing the philosophical idea of empiricism. This idea was pioneered by George Berkely in the 18th century he said "Esse est percipi" which basically means "To be is to be perceived". This means that the world and all our discoveries in the world are found in the brain through our sensory information. So without this vital sense data you cannot really know anything until you have observed and experienced it. This idea means that you cannot assume anything because all the things we know must be gained by first hand experience.

Here is a joke on this subject:
"A man is worried that his wife is losing her hearing, so he consults a doctor. The doctor suggests that he try a simple at home test on her: Stand behind her and ask her a question, first from twenty feet away, next from ten feet, and finally right next to her.
So the man goes home and sees his wife in the kitchen facing the stove. He says from the door, "What's for dinner tonight?" No answer.
Ten feet behind her he says, "Whats for dinner tonight?" Still no answer.
Finally, right behind her he says, "What's for dinner tonight?"
And his wife turns around and says, "For the third time- Chicken!"

So his incorrect theory that his wife was losing her hearing came from HIS incorrect sense data which said to him. "Since she doesnt respond to my qustions she must be losing her hearing!" but in reality he wasn't hearing her response to his questions so infact he is the one losing his hearing. Thats ironic.