GERALD COWAN’S PERSONAL PERIODICALS
Number 621 • March 19, 2021
IS IT IMPORTANT, INDIFFERENT, OR IRRELEVANT? HOW CAN WE TELL THE DIFFERENCE?
I saw this illustration, but you can easily visualize it. The teacher had a large glass jar and an assortment of other things on the table. He said he would demonstrate how to fill a jar – of course we could see into it and judge what he was doing. First he placed some large rocks in the jar – some smooth, some with jagged edges – until no more would fit. Has the jar been filled now? Yes, some agreed that it was full. No, not yet. He poured in some coarse gravel and shook the jar so that the gravel settled between the rocks. Full now? Yes. Are you sure? He then poured in some very fine sand, shook it and watched it settle into the space between rocks and gravel until the mass was seemingly solid and immoveable. Is the jar full now? Yes, certainly so – no room even for more sand. He then began to pour water into the jar until everything was wet and the water was at the topmost level of the jar. Now everyone agreed that it was completely filled and full. The teacher then said this was a test – a test of perception. Each student was required to write the lesson learned from the demonstration. What lesson did you learn from this? Continue reading