Is the tactile nature of Reality indispensable to meaningful human relationships?

Answer 1

Humans are undeniably tactile creatures but we also have four other senses (perhaps more if you include empathy or stronger 'esp's).

A little of that 'Human Touch' (as Springsteen so nicely puts it) is awfully nice and indeed a method of communication when our limited ability to express reality with words becomes, well, limited.

However as any blind or deaf person could prove to you our other faculties become stonger when one is removed. So no, it is not indispensable, just nice.

Actually I have had meaningful human relationships without even meeting the person and without using any of my 'senses' per se. A meeting of the minds through thoughtful, kind and/or humorous words can be 'meaningful' too. (I suppose that involves the sense of sight but does not fully represent the sense of sight.)

The human being's most powerful ability is the ability to use our brains to adapt to just about any situation. The sense of touch and all the other senses are only pathways for information - its in the brain where the real relationship resides.

Even 'the heart' is just a metaphor for a way of using the brain. (perhaps nothing more than distinguishing right brain function from left) The real heart only pumps blood.

The brain is the only thing indispensable to human relationships and it doesn't really matter how we feed the brain its information, though a little of that 'Human Touch' is awfully nice...


Baby, in a world without pity
Do you think what I'm askin's too much
I just want to feel you in my arms
Share a little of that Human Touch
Feel a little of that Human Touch
Give me a little of that Human Touch

Answer 2

Reality does not have a tactile nature, touch is a perception; a sense possessed by human beings. Is this specific sense that we have indispensable to relationships? I don't see why it should be.

Meaningful relationships could reasonably be defined as: interactions between two or more people which mutually and persistently effect all the parties involved (in a similar way?).

Other emotive words that most would agree constitute examples of meaningful relationships would be: love, friendship, caring, devotion, intimacy, and attachment. I have personally experienced all of these emotions without the tactile sense.

In fact, I have an aversion to touch and some of my best friends, who I have known for years...I have also not touched for years. I would definitely still consider our relationships meaningful. Also, anyone who has fallen in love over the internet, as happens more and more commonly in our increasingly communication-ridden culture, knows that meaningful human relationships can occur when their physical bodies are continents apart.

Answer 3

The tactile part of relationship sure adds a meaningful 'touch', no doubt! It seems to be part of the grand plan for some of us.

Many folks have had beautiful relationships with little of the tactile part...the heart is big.

Like all the ingredients in the "divine mix" there is mystery surrounding our various experiences. I guess it is good to enjoy what comes our way. :)

Answer 4

Tactility adds to meaningful human relationships, just as our five/6 senses is indispensable to our whole being.

Answer 5

I see this question in terms of love between a man and a woman. Some of us throw reality out of the window when we're in love. To stay in reality and love at the same time is like putting an elephant and Al Gore in a closet together. But as the relationship goes on, the closet turns into a room, and in turn turns into a house so both could live comfortably with each other.

By the way, if I interpreted your question wrong, I apologize, but that's how I read it.