To those metaphysically inclined and ontologically biased here is a question for you.
Where is the Rose?
I have in my hand a rose plant. It could well have been any other living thing, but for my purposes I will persist with the rose.
My rose has a flower, leaves, a stem and roots.
My mission: to find out the essence of the rose by removing the superfluous.
I pluck out the flower; it merely serves to propagate the plant, and hence cannot be its essence. It is superfluous.
I pluck out the leaves; these merely serve to produce sustenance for the plant, and hence not its essence. It is superfluous.
I pluck out the stem; it just provides a supportive structure for the rest of the plant, and hence not its essence. It is superfluous.
I pluck out the roots; these just gather nutrients from the earth for the rest of the plant, and hence not its essence. It is superfluous.
Suddenly I have nothing left.
Where is the Rose?
Where is the Rose?
I have in my hand a rose plant. It could well have been any other living thing, but for my purposes I will persist with the rose.
My rose has a flower, leaves, a stem and roots.
My mission: to find out the essence of the rose by removing the superfluous.
I pluck out the flower; it merely serves to propagate the plant, and hence cannot be its essence. It is superfluous.
I pluck out the leaves; these merely serve to produce sustenance for the plant, and hence not its essence. It is superfluous.
I pluck out the stem; it just provides a supportive structure for the rest of the plant, and hence not its essence. It is superfluous.
I pluck out the roots; these just gather nutrients from the earth for the rest of the plant, and hence not its essence. It is superfluous.
Suddenly I have nothing left.
Where is the Rose?
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