what part of a tree is the actual tree? is the leaf that falls in autumn still considered a tree? was it ever a tree? where can one find the tree?
2007-11-30 06:27:41 · 8 answers · asked by bagel lover 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
The whole is the sum of the parts. An eye alone, an ear alone, does not constitute the entirety of a person.
Your "tree" is root, limb, trunk, leaves...all parts combined to make the single tree. You find the tree where you expect to find it....in the crossing of your belief in the existence of the tree and your recognition of the object before you as being the tree.
2007-11-30 06:33:20 · answer #1 · answered by aidan402 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Things are defined largely by their context. If a scientist found a leaf, just by itself, he'd look at it and wonder what it was. He couldn't really even begin to analyze a leaf until he saw where it came from. Thousands of them attached to a plant, well now we're getting somewhere in terms of finding out what they're for, how they work, etc. Also its only by seeing a green, living leaf that the scientist would realize that the individual one he saw was dried up and brown, and it wan't supposed to be that way.
If you saw one or two or ten of parts of a car engine just sitting on a table you'd have no idea what they do, they would be just oddly-shaped parts. But if you saw the engine you'd see more than just a collection of parts. It actually -does- something! Each part is defined by its function, by what it contributes to the whole.
2007-11-30 14:36:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The leaf and the tree are one. Removing the leaf changes nothing it is still the tree.
The problem is seeing the tree as being separate from the whole.
Love and blessings Don
2007-11-30 14:45:30 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The whole is the sum of the Parts...for your silly e.g ...like the leaf ...the leaf is no more considered part of the tree because it is no longer part of the whole...any way I think u got my message.
2007-11-30 15:17:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this has to be the stupidest question i have ever heard of, i mean a tree is a tall thing covered in bark, the leaf tht falls off the tree is not the bloody tree, tht is why it has its own name dont be stupid ur trying to sound smart like a moron
2007-11-30 14:36:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
A symphony orchestra sounds very different and infinitely better than each individual instrument.
2007-11-30 15:04:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "Whole" is never greater than the sum of "all" the parts!
Peace and Blessings....
2007-11-30 15:53:55 · answer #7 · answered by Premaholic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
every part ... creates the whole!
2007-11-30 14:56:35 · answer #8 · answered by picmybrain 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋