A glass is filled to half it's capacity...?

Question

A glass is filled top half it's capacity with liquid and placed on a table in front of a group of two people.

One of these people think that he sees one thing and the other think that he sees another when in fact they all see the same thing.

Why is this so?

Serious answers only please.

Thanks.

Absent Minded : I beleive that you may have missed the essence of the question by focussing of the context of the question. It is not about what they see but why they see it, but to help you out they don't see the glass being either emptied or filled, they do not know anything about the glass except that it is at half it's capacity. Hope this helps.

Answer 1

Great question..... Star

Seeing an object is a subjective process.... the eyes produce the same picture of the object, but it is the mind which is interpreting what it is. Therefore although the object is the same, the two minds which are interpreting the sight are different.... therefore it is perfectly possible that what exactly the two persons see can differ, sometimes even drastically.

Answer 2

Here's your serious answer. No one has "set down" or shown a drawing of that particular glass to which you're referring, without LEADING THE WITNESS, and therein lies the rub.

It's not the person answering who sees the glass half full or half empty, but rather the examiner who sets it up that way.

You are right. They ALL DO SEE THE SAME THING, and they just might give the same answer, IF the question were simply, "What do you see?"

But no. The question is always, "Do you see this glass as half empty or half full?"

(I see it as both, as a matter of fact.)

I'm not the type to be led, so when I was asked, I simply answered that I saw a drawing of a glass, and it's half empty AND half full. (I don't believe that the terms, "pessimist" and "optimist" have much value beyond everyday speech, but I do believe that to see what I saw is to be a REALIST, and that's probably how most would answer, were the question asked purely without that push.)

And FOR THE FUN OF IT:
I had this thought, "Who's to say that the person who calls the cup half-empty isn't the optimist?"
Logical to me, because that's the person who sees the potential for more!!!

And, in reverse, the person who sees it as half full may be a pessimist, exactly because that person doesn't have the imagination to assume there's more to be gotten (instead maybe they see that "half-fullness" as all there is).

So, there you have it. Probably less exciting than if we really thought people were that equally and simplistically opposed, right? Sorry. I just don't buy that. Question just isn't set up on a level playing field....

Answer 3

The one that sees it half full sees that the liquid still has room for more and sees things optimistically. The other sees that same glass as half empty and is pessimistic and feel that it is too bad is half gone.
While in reality the glass is neither half full or half empty unless you know whether it was just poured or just half poured out. It is all about the box you are thinking inside of.

Answer 4

In dreams, a glass that is half filled to its capacity represents one who does not feel adequately equipped to handle the burdens of responsibilities.

Now, those who observe (person1 & person 2) are those who do not feel directly responsible for assisting that "half filled" personality. and usually represent the dreamer.

With that in mind, it can be deduced that as the two persons peering upon the symbolic "half glass", is actually no less than perspective, or rather, seeing from another point of view at what they appear to be going through.

Same person (all three: half glass, person 1 and person 2). Just different perspectives. Person views themselves as half glass (inadequate), person 2 sees perspective as half filled, and person three sees, half empty.

Same as one who sees the heavens as partly cloudy (pessimist) and another sees it is partly sunny (optimist).

We all have a side by which we view our life's sojourn. throgh the eyes we weigh how that appears to be. However, internally, our subconscious must give it meaning, so we see another perspective. even at times, as another entity. But, it's still the same object of opinion.



Your sister,
Ginger,
(Dream interpreter)

Answer 5

You are proposing an arbitrary situation which is lacking in context. Thus you will get random answers which are lacking in useful information (with which to judge the respondent). Actually, all viewers think the glass is filled to half its capacity. Whether they express this as half full or half empty will be determnined by the context, if there is one, and by coincidence in the absence of context. Thus, if you are filling the glass from the faucet, when the glass reaches half its capacity you will say it is half full because you are in the act of filling it. If you are drinking from that glass, when it reaches half its capacity you will say it is now half empty because you are in the act of emptying it.

Answer 6

Well it's based on a person's perception isn't it?

A good way to measure optimism and pessimism in a person....

Whoever sees the glass half full is considered to be optimistic, while the person who sees it as half empty is considered to be more pessimistic in nature....

But if you're asking why people see the glass the way they do, then I guess it would depend on societal influences, peers, genetics everything that goes into shaping a person's mind and the way they think!

Answer 7

Well we have all heard this before. The person who sees the glass as half full is more optimistic, and positive whereas the person who sees the glass as half empty is negative. Basically one person says' "We've got half the glass left" and the other person says "The glass is half empty"

Answer 8

Half Full. I always try to look at what I have and not what I don't have. Makes you grateful for everything you get in life.

Answer 9

Perhaps people's opinion differ on account of how they feel at a certain moment...one person may feel happy, so he will say the glass is half-full...another person may feel sad, so he/she will say the glass is half-empty...it is all about each person's subjective perception of reality...I think...

Answer 10

It is a matter of attitude! If you want to see a glass half full, you see that! If you want to see half empty, then you see that! To refine your attitude, and successfully get into realms of philosophy, do meditation! About meditation, see what a guru has to say: : "...............................................................
When we concentrate we focus our attention on one particular thing. But when we meditate we feel that we have the capacity deep within us to see many things, deal with many things and welcome many things all at the same time. When we meditate, we try to expand ourselves, like a bird spreading its wings. We try to expand our finite consciousness and enter into the Universal Consciousness where there is no fear, jealousy or doubt but only joy, peace and divine power....."! No glass, no liquid, after that: only Consciousness!