All distinctions human beings are able to make… [How to be an Original]
All distinctions human beings are able to make concerning our environment and our behavior can be usefully represented through the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory senses
This is one of the many NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) presuppositions and one of the original 8 of Richard Bandler.
What does NLP mean with the presupposition?
This presupposition is rather long and uses a lot of difficult words. To translate it into easier language: “Humans observe (changes in) behavior and environment by using the five senses (seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting).” It’s not exactly the same, but similar and easier to understand (and remember).
The key elements of this presupposition are our five senses, and they are used a lot in NLP. The first three (visual, auditory and kinesthetic - seeing, hearing and feeling) are the ones that are used the most.
Why is it necessary for NLP to believe this?
As people we need to have a common ground on which we can synchronize. Words might have different meanings between people, but when we get down to observations related to our senses, we often find this common ground.
When we get to descriptions that are based on sensory experiences, we have a means to really calibrate our meaning. If someone talks about yellow for instance, we can calibrate whether we are talking about the same thing by pointing at a yellow object.
This doesn’t mean that yellow is the same for everybody. There’s a long standing philosophical discussion about it: How to tell if the colour yellow I see, is the same as the colour yellow you see? One can only be sure when looking through other people’s eyes, and (besides a corneal transplant) that’s not possible yet.
Can I find proof or personal experiences that support the presupposition?
Well I do have those five senses, and they are the main way of observing the world. And most of what I experience can ultimately be described by using descriptions based on sensory perception.
Can I find proof or personal experiences that undermine the presupposition?
Here comes the so-called “sixth sense” to mind. What about precognition, telepathy or extra-sensory perception and the likes? They might not be proven, but are they untrue because of it? Hard to tell.
But even more commonly accepted phenomenons as intuition and synchronicity might not be directly related to the five senses. They have something mysterious about them, we know or believe they exist, but we don’t quite understand how they work.
In conclusion, how do I feel about this presupposition?
I’m inclined to believe this, but as a presupposition. I have a feeling that there might be more out there, that may or may not be directly related to these five senses. Who knows?
Time for you to talk
What do you think of this presupposition? Does it make sense to you? Do you have experiences or examples that might undermine this presupposition?
Original post here: Lodewijkvdb
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