A Little Story Inspired by Atheism by Matt Fradd
You see this nut here? If I put it here like this, do we have a pile or not. No? Just a nut. Okay, let’s add another one. A pile now? No? Let’s add one more. And another, and another. A pile?
Maybe? You’re not sure. At some point it will be a pile, though, won’t it? Or do you doubt that? Okay, good. So a pile of nuts may begin to exist here but we’re not sure when exactly it begins.
You’re probably wondering why I’m bringing this up. You think I’m ridiculous don’t you? Ha! It’s okay, its okay. I know. And what’s more, I’m more aware of it than you. You see, that’s one of the handy things about growing in self-knowledge. No matter what anyone else thinks or says about you it pales in comparison to the truth you already know. I’m ridiculous, yes.
But, and here’s the point. What about persons? They exist, don’t they? Or are we not sure. Where do they exist? A person, I mean, you for instance, where does he exist? From the top of his head to the tip of his toes. It’s funny, isn’t it? We exist, but what do we exist in? Space?
What is that? Is it something or nothing? All of these people existing in something or nothing and we’re not sure which. Funny, isn’t it? I told you it was funny. But these objects we call people that move about in space—you do agree they move above, don’t you? That they exist and that they move about?
Now if I take this glass and move it, say, here. Is this not an object that exists and which moves about in space? It’s not self-moving, that’s right, that’s right, you’re paying attention! And that’s what differentiates it from animals, say, or those strange objects we call persons.
You know when I was a boy I remember becoming quite offended when my Father kicked our dog. I protested, saying, “hey now, he’s a person too!” And do you think that’s right? That animals can be persons. What is a person? An object, yes, yes, and object that is self-moving, but what else? Is there a difference between you, say, and a dog. Intelligence? And what is that? You know what, never mind, even if could explain it, how does that make you fundamentally different from a dog. You also walk on two legs and speak Russian.
What does it matter? It matters little. Or less than little, nothing. So, you see this here? Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. You see this here? Good bye nuts. They’re gone, aren’t they? Good bye glass! Good bye person! Or was he a dog? Nevermind.
Bartender! Another beer please. And some sort of towel. The object within this object has gotten all over the object I call my hand.