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According to Russell, Is the Table Real?

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Submitted By deebizzle
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Russell begins by saying that, in daily life we all assume many things as certainties, which under closer scrutiny may not be straight forward as they first appear. He goes on to explain the difference between appearance and reality, what things seem to be and what they actually are. When we first look at the table, we believe it to be oblong, brown and shiny, to the touch smooth, cool and hard and to make a wooden sound when tapped. Other people who have experienced the table will agree with this description but Russell states that when we try and go further with this description is when our troubles begin. As you look at the table, the colour will vary from where the light is hitting it and as you move the parts of the table that are reflecting the light will change. Russell then explains that if several people are looking at the table, each person will see a slight variation in the colour. As it appears to be of different colours from different points of view there is no reason for regarding one of the colours to be that of the real table. Therefore, the table does not have any one particular colour. The same can be said about texture, and the shape of the table. The sensations we experience and sense data we receive do not give us the truth about the table, only the appearance. Russell goes on to say that the real table, if there is one, is not immediately known to us but is an inference from what is immediately known. He states that there is most likely some kind of reality behind the appearance of the table, but all that he can conclude is that the table is not what it seems.

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