[YOUTUBE]L1tsCOkCoC8[/YOUTUBE]

[QUOTE=chappy;369968]I can think of plenty of other answers:[/QUOTE]

All these are pretty straight forward attempts to answer the question as posed. It's also possible to use the koan as a window into assumptions implicit in the question and other parts of life. Responses in this vein include "some things have indivisible constituents" and "extrapolation is risky."

[QUOTE=wblipp;369995]All these are pretty straight forward attempts to answer the question as posed. It's also possible to use the koan as a window into assumptions implicit in the question and other parts of life. Responses in this vein include "some things have indivisible constituents" and "extrapolation is risky."[/QUOTE]


I agree that is a possibility. I notice you didn't respond to Chris's conjecture that these other possibilities aren't the only two answers. (which is what his words said whether he meant to imply that or not--whereas my own answers do not place any doubt that there are infinite answers to such a question, which is why I find the question to be so unsatisfactory.)

Personally I've been through a spiritual stage or two and ultimately found them less than satisfying. I find a similar but longer lasting feeling of oneness with the universe every time the Cardinals win the World Series.

(Which is also to say that I'm more spiritual than any living Cubs fan.)

[QUOTE=R.D. Silverman;368709]The answer to your vacuous question is obvious to anyone with two working brain cells.[/QUOTE]

I've had a very enjoyable week, so I want to come back to this playground and engage you.

What are your thoughts on the Mandelbrot set? Or even the "butterfly effect".

[QUOTE=chappy;369968]I can think of plenty of other answers:

The hand makes a sound as it passes through the atmosphere, that is imperceptible to your ears yet exists despite that.[/quote]That sound is produced by both hands during part (pre-contact) of the clapping motion.

[quote]Two hands clap and there is a sound, what is the sound of one hand? Therefore one hand's sound is obviously separate from clapping.[/quote]Not really. The one hand's sound also occurs during part of the clapping, but is of far less magnitude than the "clap".

I agree on both points. Except that your second still misses the fact that people say (and try to answer) "what is the sound of one hand clapping" when that was specifically not what the koan asked.

[QUOTE=chappy;370215]I agree on both points. Except that your second still misses the fact that people say (and try to answer) "what is the sound of one hand clapping" when that was specifically not what the koan asked.[/QUOTE]

Seriously, folks, koans are only semi-serious.

Interpretation at your own risk, :smile:

[QUOTE=davar55;370245]Seriously, folks, koans are only semi-serious.

Interpretation at your own risk, :smile:[/QUOTE]

Yes! :tu:

[QUOTE=davar55;370245]Seriously, folks, koans are only semi-serious.

Interpretation at your own risk, :smile:[/QUOTE]

Here's a koan I like, see what you make of it:

[code]
What flies high as a bird, swims surely as a fish,
pulls strongly as an elephant, and hunts fiercely as a tiger,
but is not bird or fish or elephant or tiger?
Dwell not on the differences but answer rightly.
[/code]

[QUOTE=davar55;371498]Here's a koan I like, see what you make of it:

[code]
What flies high as a bird, swims surely as a fish,
pulls strongly as an elephant, and hunts fiercely as a tiger,
but is not bird or fish or elephant or tiger?
Dwell not on the differences but answer rightly.
[/code][/QUOTE]Machinery

[QUOTE=xilman;371521]Machinery[/QUOTE]

I was thinking SuperCat, who bends iron with his bare paws.

But I like your answer better, it's realistic instead of fantastic.