Quote of the Day
"There once was a man, who said "God
Must think it exceedingly odd,
If he finds that this tree
Continues to be
When there's no one about in the Quad."
(Limeric on a philosophical problem posed by Bishop Berkely about whether things in general, and the tree in the quad at Balliol college, Oxford as a particular example, still exist when there is nobody to observe them. Both the limeric and this suggested reply, were composed by Balliol-educated Catholic theologian and Bible translator Ronald Knox, the latter more accurately reflecting Berkeley's beliefs:)
Must think it exceedingly odd,
If he finds that this tree
Continues to be
When there's no one about in the Quad."
(Limeric on a philosophical problem posed by Bishop Berkely about whether things in general, and the tree in the quad at Balliol college, Oxford as a particular example, still exist when there is nobody to observe them. Both the limeric and this suggested reply, were composed by Balliol-educated Catholic theologian and Bible translator Ronald Knox, the latter more accurately reflecting Berkeley's beliefs:)
- "Dear Sir, your astonishment's odd:
- I am always about in the Quad.
- And that's why the tree
- Will continue to be,
- Since observed by, Yours faithfully, GOD."
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