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[epiphanymonger]

So I ran across this the other day looking at optical illusions. I thought it was fun. About a minute ago I thought it might be a good idea to post it on here in case any of you would like to try it. It's not a trick question of anything. So anyway, try to figure it out if you want to. Post the answer you get (if you get one--and if you don't

Comments

[godhandmouth]

Ok, this brain teaser is indicative of everything I hate about Einstein-- his philosophy and personal values. I also think that people focus too much on his work in relativity, and not enough on the photoelectric effect (more important discovery; what he got the nobel prize for). Einstein loves to categorize things, and applies this to people. Take for instance that he makes an intelligence test to separate people into two groups. Take also that he bases much of this problem on the idea of national identity. In the book of Einstein philosophy I have, he categorizes and characterizes the continents of Asia and Europe, then says America is a mixture of both. He is a man set upon popular separation. And he is an asshole. And he wasn't that good at the violin.

[epiphanymonger]

I agree, for the most part. I don't know as much about Einstein as you do, but the categorization type of tendency of his bothers me. It might be a big reason he's such a cultural icon--because he tried so hard to be weird, which he categorized as being intelligent. That's a bit of a stretch (though maybe it's not), and not exactly what I was referring to by his tendency to over-categorize and all, but it fits...I guess. I think that perhaps this tendency of his both contributed to his accomplishments in physics, and also limited him. But anyway, interesting point.

[soul_sharpener]

Everyone categorizes people. I'm sorry to inform you guys, and if you think you aren't you're wrong. It's a subconscious thing to do. It's just inevitable. I don't agree with Einstein's categorization, but there have been worse categorizations.

[epiphanymonger]

yeah, no kidding chief. we're talking about being excessively categorical, or however you want to say it. But you knew that.