Contrast

Contrast

The only way one can observe anything in the universe is by contrast.

Chinese philosophy describes the yin and the yang. The concept of yin and yang describes two opposing and at the same time, complimentary [competing] aspects of any one phenomenon [object or process] or comparison of any two phenomena.  [Source: Wikipedia] We know dark because there is light. Smooth is the contrast to rough.  We know distance because we have more than one point. Distance is meaningless without a frame of reference. It is like asking a question, "how far is one point?" A more sensible question could be phrased, "how far is point A from point B?"  A similar truth can be said of most things, including emotions. If there was only one emotion could it exist? We could not know happiness without sadness. 

Contrast allows us to differentiate what is; - from what is not; - just the way, the semicolon and the dash demarcated one set of words from the other.

Because we do not perceive something does not mean that it is not there. At one time, will we could perceive was limited by our five senses.  Before microscopes, we did not know that microscopic life existed.  There was evidence that microscopic life did exist. Just because we did not see the bacteria that help make cheese or gave mankind the plague; it did not mean microscopic life did not exist.  They still went about their business, just without our understanding.  We did not know how to interpret unseen particles. The microscope enhanced our senses, and hence our ability to consider possibilities beyond our senses.

Similarly, before telescopes, we could not see the expanse of the universe. We could not have known how immense the universe was.  This helped feed the notion that we were at the center of creation.  Since we do not now know the size of the universe is it may be difficult to say precisely where we are in the universe.  On a practical basis, for everyday living, it may not make a difference whether we are at the center or on the periphery. It only affects our self-importance. ©