December 11, 2002
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Réflexions sur une réflexion .
C ' est encore une histoire de pont . Nous nous promenions le long d ' un petit chenal à côté de la Somme et nous vîmes cette étrange image .
Sur la photo nous voyons deux ponts . Evidemment notre cerveau nous dit qu 'il n ' y a qu 'un seul pont et que celui du dessous est une image donnée par réflexion . Notre cerveau reconstruit la réalité perçue par nos sens . Cependant il ne peut le faire que dans les limites de sa propre structure physique et chimique .
Le cerveau humain depuis des siècles a construit des outils de pensée : mathématiques , modèles physiques , théories etc ..qui poussent plus loin la connaissance de la vie et de
l 'univers et permettent d ' agir . . Mais ces outils sont liés aux capacités et aux structures du cerveau humain . Un ami me citait une phrase du philosophe français Bachelard : " le monde n ' existerait pas sans l ' homme " , une manière de dire que le monde n ' existe pour l ' homme que tel qu 'il peut le concevoir . Il y a donc un relativisme dans nos connaissances et nous restons nécessairement enfermés dans notre sphère humaine . Il restera toujours un énorme mystère .C ' est ici que nous rejoignons Noël . Il y a les réalités que nous pouvons construire et les réalités de la foi , don de Dieu .. Elles ne sont pas incompatibles
Qu ' en pensez - vous ?
Reflections about a reflection .
It ' s again a bridge story . We went for a walk along a little chanel at the side of the river Somme .and we saw this strange image .
On this picture we see two bridges . Obviously our brain tells us there is only one bridge and the one below is an image given by reflection . Our brain re - build the reality discerned with our senses . However it can do it only in the limits of its own chemical and physical structures .
For centuries the human brain has built tools of thought : mathematics , physical patterns , theories … that bring knowledges about Life and Univers forward and allow to act .. But these tools are linked to the human brain ' s capacities and structures . A friend told me a french philosopher Bachelard ' s quote : " The world would not exist without the Man " , a way to say that the world exists only as he can conceive it . Thus there is a relativism of our knowledges . and we always remain within our human sphere . There will always be a huge mystery .
This is here we join Christmas . There are the reality that we can build and the reality coming from faith , gift from God . Both they are not incompatible .
What do you think about that ?
Comments (67)
I can hardly believe that I am the first one on your site to comment. I always enjoy seeing your pictures, it must be a beautiful place that you live in.
I think there is something about water and the reflections in it, that sometimes make people reflect on their lives. I know I always feel at peace when I walk by a body of water.
I love to just sit on a rock and listen to a bubbling brook or stream. I always feel closer to God-when I sit by the water-or take a nature walk through the woods.
I can hardly believe that I am the first one on your site to comment. I always enjoy seeing your pictures, it must be a beautiful place that you live in.
I think there is something about water and the reflections in it, that sometimes make people reflect on their lives. I know I always feel at peace when I walk by a body of water.
I love to just sit on a rock and listen to a bubbling brook or stream. I always feel closer to God-when I sit by the water-or take a nature walk through the woods.
Oops! Do not know how I left 2 comments, as I only submitted it once. Have a great week!!!
Interesting thought Michel... I know that the Ancient Romans (and I am sure others) created God's to go with all of their ideals in life... and I have read in more than one place that certain people's say that "The God(s) need us to believe in them in order to survive." when a race/culture dies out they take that belief with them, thus taking the God as well.
I wonder ...
The photo had a great stillness with the frost on the ground to , This is the time of the year to think about what we do in life
Thank God for mystery, and thank God for faith. I think it is an arrogance of man to take our role so highly as to say that reality exists only insofar as our perception of it, as some philosophers have said.
it is a sign of privilege and humility to find such beauty, wonder, mystery, and faith as you do, michel, in your photos and writings.
It is a mystery the how & why....our faith is what gets us through.....if you have no faith, then what is the point?? Do you believe in a parallel world?? Although I am skeptical, there is too much unexplainable to just dismiss it. My Mother used to say, "Just think how boring life would be if everone thought the same as you". Isn't this so true??
...Michel, alas, at the moment I don't know what I think regarding the realties of man. At the moment, reading A Study in Existential Philosophy. You can understand my confusion, yes?
MuSe
...your photo is so appropriate, reflection upon reflection. Is it the crossroads of today that hath you and I reflecting on sister thoughts? I wonder.
...was there man during the ice age? Or is the ice age an illusion to our reality? Is this the phenomenon that explains different perceptions of supposedly the same stimuli? What are your thoughts? Love and energy.
Isn't Faith a reality ? It is for me because without it I would not be able to cope with my life now.
Ah, a beautiful photo.. then getting us to think... this is a great blog
ah, un image joli... merci pour vos pensées qui sont toujours très belles, Michel...
I believe that the only reality is from God. I do not think I am saying this well, but anything that is in disagreement with God's reality cannot exist because God is truth.
thank you for showing that lovely picture. I am sure that what we see on the surface is not the whole picture, but there are hidden depths which can only be seen by those who look with perception. Tom
Calm image in the reflection gives me a moment to sort out between image and reflection..... Which is a parallel to what we see and percieve.
Fancy I am following 14 wonders will never cease and that photo is unusual as well to get that image. About your remarks I am afraid I did not quite understan guess I have lost my mensa touch, Cheers Marjie.
reality is what you make of it. build as many bridges as you can. (thank you for the kindness, your friendliness, your warmth.)
=)
your writing is very thought-provoking....
in life many people cannot understand each other. perhaps this is because we cannot understand the way that the other person sees the world. is this our limitation or theirs?
the limitations of the human mind are not something we easily admit. perhaps this is because the human mind is one of the greatest machines we've ever known.
but. to limit ourselves to what we can conceive of as tangible is in itself limiting.
the glory of faith offers a wholeness of life and a humbleness, an acceptance that we are mere.
merci pour your wonderful story and picture, Michel. you've given a great perspective to life.
A very nice reflection you presented...
Lovely photo. Interesting thought for meditating on later, and you have marvelous comments from other people already. What a treat to visit you, Michel.
je suis tout a fait d'accord avec vous. pour moi la raison et les capabilites de l'homme ne sont pas incompatibles avec le Dieu ("faith", "belief"). et j'adore cettes pensees - c'est exactement la sorte de philo que j'aime..on ne perdre pas notre place dans l'universe mais en meme temps on essaye d'comprendre nous sommes si petits!..en plus, je suis tellement heureuse que vous avez nous "remind" la raison pour ces vacances...et pourquoi nous celebrons.
thank you...I feel the world relects our soul as we see what we perceive. No two people see anything the same and that is what the world is about. Art is created from nature as we perceive.
I agree with you. Just came home from a cycling trip to Rotterdam - quite cold...
The older I grow the less I know and sadly i am unable to reach a firm conclusion, for tomorrow it will be different yet again
Itz true Michel...the mind is a powerful thing...everything exists or cease to exist because of how you choose to see things..ie. your brain
and when you look at the reflection of yourself in the mirror..what do you see?...our views are often almost always distorted..and from different angles we see different things! =)
How appropriate your picture is as you speak of reflection; the obvious reflection of water upon the senses and the inner reflection of man's thought process upon the world as he percieves it.
I am so glad you are back on Xanga! I really missed you and your wonderful blogs & pictures! I always have a calming happiness feeling when I leave your place.
The picture is beautiful!
what a cool picture!!! You are so lucky to live there!!! It must be incredible to see the things you get to each day.
It is beautiful here, but not as magickal as the pictures you show! I am glad that you share them!
I think that Bachelard was right on.. insightful quote and insightful entry. I wouldn't expect anything less from you.
Amour
Hollie
Thank you for your comment on my Xanga. I think you are entitled to write whatever you want about the wife of the British Prime Minister! Say what you want - the rest of us do. Tom
Merci pour partager la photo!
what a wonderful thought and a beautiful photo
I think you should have studied Neuroscience
Your photos, especially this one, always oil my axis of thought into full motion. Thank you for that!
Passez un bon weekend!
Clementine
reflections are always interesting aren't they? whatever we see in them. i've never understood science, maths. anything related to those. guess i'm more inclined to lead a life fill with carefreeness. i don't want to be bound by logic.
thanks michel.
Wonderful!!!
Have a great weekend.....
what a beautiful blog this is, michel! and the photo is lovely too! i hope you and your family will have a very merry christmas!
Je crois comme Bachelard fait, que le monde est une manifestation de nos perceptions. Nous avons aidé Dieu à le créer, quoique nous ne le fassions pas toujours une aussi belle place qu'il pourrait être.
Sur un niveau plus petit, nous créons aussi nos petits faits propres.
Peuvent vos vacances être brillantes et remplies de l'amour.
first of all, what a beautiful picture!
yours, and the bridge's, both) that's a wonderful quote to think on; and I do agree. we, as humans, will always be stuck in the world that we have created for ourselves, and therefore we will never know the answers to some of the great mysteries out there that philosophers so love to ponder. that's where religion fits in: it answers the questions that we are without answers to because of the rules and theories we have placed on ourselves. right?
next...
what a great reflection! (
Looks like everything I was thinking has been said.
But also, reflections are like a mirror. You can see yourself alot more. To me that is what counts the most in life. What you see in yourself not what others see in you.
I don't think they are incompatible either.
Just as reality exists in our minds, so do we in the mind of God.
A bridge to reflect our life! Wonderful thoughts and lovely picture. Hugs and happy weekend.
Michel you are very perceptive with your reflections. I don't see how it could have been said any better. And once again you have put out a very beautiful picture for us all to enjoy! I so much enjoy those. You are indeed a very wonderful person, I am so glad I know you. Have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow! ! ! ! Much love and hugs ! ! !! Have a very Merry CHRISTmas! ! ! !
The ability to reason - and the ability to imagine. They go hand in hand in the life of those who worship a Holy God.
The picture appears to me as a circle ... never ending. As life.
Je ne sais pas maintenant où j'irai finalement, parce que je dois attendre le résultat d'Oxford. S'ils me donnent une offre, je veux y aller, mais si non, je veux aller à Durham. Mais ça depend aux notes en juin aussi.
C'est une belle image!
thank you for your comments and encouragements.
We are very strong believers in God and a better future. Without God I would have little hope, but with him everything he plans is possible. Figuring out a course day to day and living a positive life without purposely causing harm to anyone is an aim.. We just hope all we tried to teach our children about God won't be forgotten either in their struggles..
Your picture and comments "reflections on reflections" seems to me to show how much care and thought we inherited from God in being able to think on deeper things than immediate needs..
I believe everyone's reality is personal to them. Different and real.
at least we can percieve that our perception may be limited.
~andro
you used to teach?
Wow! This is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!
Michel, la question que tu poses est trop "lourde" pour ma petite cervelle encore toute embrûmée suite à ma semaine de "plongée en moi-même", mais je tenais à passer voir ce qui qu'il y avait de nouveau chez toi et à te saluer! Et merci pour les mots de bienvenue sur mon "perron"! Ton acceuil m'a mis le sourire aux lèvres et la chaleur au coeur! Grosse bise, Lise
what is amazing too...we all see things differently...not one of us sees exactly what another one does...even if it occurs at the exact moment...you know what i mean
much love to you for the holidays! {y}
No I have never seen poiree de pois in France! In England a French name for a dish makes it sound high class! Best regards, Tom
Je viens pour te dire salut and merci pour vos visites!
Joyeux Noël! Les hindous croient de "Maya" (l'illusion des sens). La realité ultime se trouve en dehors des sens... Amicalement, Victor
This is such a nice site. One of the best ones I've come across on Xanga. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I agree with Mel, missed you too, and enjoy your blogs!!
Gorgeous pics you post, I've got some snowman pics for you to see!!
Your site is lovely, and honest, and profound, and I thank you for that.
*waves*
im still kicking, michel, but MY brain is a mess right now. thanks for thinking of me. your photo and blog are beautiful - as always.
This is very a very deep thought! I see my reflection in the looking glass of my computer. Thank you for reflecting this thought through my looking glass. Wonderful ideas! Everything is relative! @-}-}--
salut,Michel~
la photo est tres belle et c'est commode d'avoir visiter votre web~
Sending you much love and hugs this Christmas season! Have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow! ! ! I still love that picture and the thoughts that go with it! Peace is a very good idea!
I discovered your site through Portia ... what a lovely place! I intend to visit often. It's like taking a walk on a clear spring day.
Best of wishes to you and your loved ones!
Thank you, Michel, for your condolences of my Panthers! I really appreciate it because I have been pretty down about it but you cheered me up!
I love your thoughts on the photos you put here, they are...hmm...thought provoking.
Thanks for the "welcome back"Michel. Nice to have your friendship
Comments are closed.