Noumena and Phenomena

Noumena and Phenomena

Noumena and Phenomena
by Dr Peter Marshall

“The world is flat and that is that”,
The quantum scientist said.
“The three dimensions you perceive
Are just inside your head.”

“The world is three-dimensional”,
The physics scholar cried.
“There’s length and there is breadth and depth;
They’re there before your eyes.”

The philosopher of science said,
“In a way you both are right.
Its noumena and phenomena
Keep you both awake at night.

In everyday existence
We believe what we can see
And naturally confuse what is
With what appears to be.

The conversion mechanism
May be a holograph
And the greatest mathematicians
Try to prove the fact with math.

But wheresoever lies the truth,
In math it will not be
It will be neuroscience,
For that realm holds the key.”

“Why is it you say this?” they asked
“Explain a little more,
For we’re not neuroscientists.”
The wise man answered, “Sure.

Does a falling tree make any sound if there’s no one around to hear?
Does a rose have any smell if there are no noses near?
Does sweet wine have any taste
If there are no tongues to savour?
No. It’s your brain makes these percepts, the sound, the smell, the flavour.”

“Then you may not see the same
Things as I do?” one said.
“How can we share a common world
If it’s all inside our head?

Can you give us clarity
On what so far is obscure?”
The scholars raised their eyebrows
And the wise man answered, “Sure.

Our perceptual systems, of common type are they,
Translate noumena to phenomena in the exact same way.
So, our minds roughly agree on what we hear and taste and see.
Our common world is simply intersubjectivity.”