<p>This is my rough draft version - sorry I couldn’t find the final product. It’s close enough for you to get the point. :)</p>
<p>University of Chicago Essay #3</p>
<p>The mind that does not stick</p>
<p>I told the man to keep his grubby paws off of my mind, and then it all went downhill after that she told me, looking me straight in the eye. To be sure hers were a little crazed, but I smiled politely and nodded.</p>
<p>A very interesting story. If youll excuse me I said, trying to make a quick exit.</p>
<p>Oh, but you havent heard the best part she said, her eyes twinkling.</p>
<p>And what is that? I asked.</p>
<p>In another universe you were my husband. She was all teeth now, her face broken out in a huge smile. I smiled too. If this was a pass at me, it was certainly the most unusual Id ever heard. Well that and I dont get too many passes.</p>
<p>I pretended to examine her closer. My word! How could I have forgotten you my queen! Its all of this haziness about time I cant decide whether Im going backward or forward so sometimes faces get a little jumbled up. I meet so many former wives nowadays its a little hard to keep track of them all. What did you say you name was again? I was playing along, trying to decide whether I should order her a white jacket or a cup of coffee.</p>
<p>I didnt. Its Eve silly. And dont even try that time confusion thing that all of my husbands give. Anyway, all of this talk of time makes me hungry. She pulled an object out of her bag. Apple? she said, offering me the fruit.</p>
<p>Déjà vu? I asked, taking it in my hand. I took a big bite out of it.</p>
<p>Fate she said. An overdressed man came over to us and gave a disapproving sniff.</p>
<p>Sir, outside food is not allowed in here. Im going to have to ask you to leave.</p>
<p>I nearly choked on the apple. But, but I sputtered. As I was escorted to the door of the building I noticed Eve had followed. It was when I was standing outside wondering how I had gotten there, that she walked in front of me, smiling that infernal smile.</p>
<p>Look what you did, I said. You got us kicked out. It was nice buffet they had in there free too.</p>
<p>Well, now you know better at least. She said, laughing.</p>
<p>Dont you take anything seriously? I asked, a little annoyed now.
Oh! But I take you seriously you make me laugh!</p>
<p>You knew we would get kicked out of there if you offered me that apple I accused. </p>
<p>It was fate. Dont you believe me? she asked innocently.</p>
<p>I dont believe in fate I retorted.</p>
<p>She laughed harder. I told you, you make me laugh. Watch, next your going to tell me you believe we were actually in that building.</p>
<p>Actually, I do. I said. I was really annoyed now, and I didnt feel like playing her game anymore.</p>
<p>You see? she said, laughing.</p>
<p>Dont you believe in reality?</p>
<p>The last time I believed in reality I found myself counting how many forty-five degree angles there were in a square.</p>
<p>Now I was confused. But there arent any forty-five degree angles in a square I said, scratching my head.</p>
<p>Exactly, she said.</p>
<p>Ok fine. Lets start with something simple then. Whats one plus one?</p>
<p>Now she looked confused. Whats ‘one’ again? Is that the same as ten? I can never get those straight.</p>
<p>I was tearing at my hair. One is very different from ten! For instance I picked up two twigs from the ground and held them up these are two twigs. We have one here I said, holding it up, and another here. One means a single individual twig. If we have another single individual twig together they make two. Do you understand now?</p>
<p>She furrowed her brow. Yes I think I understand now.</p>
<p>I relaxed a little. Ok so whats one plus one?</p>
<p>She picked up two twigs from my hand and put them together end on end. One tiny twig, plus another tiny twig equals one big twig. So one plus one equals one. Right?</p>
<p>No! You
I
you didnt
I was really pulling at my hair now. The pain kept me convinced I was real.
Ok, ok, I muttered to myself. Lets start with the law of identity. A is A. No matter what A will always be equal to A. I picked up a small pebble from the ground. This pebble will always be this pebble, containing its characteristics and form. Existence exists! Its the fundamental axiom of reality. In other words, what you see is what you get. Do you understand now?</p>
<p>Again she looked confused. Then her face cleared. Oh! I understand! She closed her eyes. If I cant see the pebble, then the pebble doesnt exist!</p>
<p>No, youve got it </p>
<p> What you see is what you get! she repeated to herself in a singsong voice.</p>
<p>No its not just sight! I said, exasperated. Its all of your senses! If you can see the pebble you know its there, if you can feel it you know its there, if you can hear it falling to the ground you know its there, if you can smell it you know its there, if you can taste it you know its there! Ignoring it doesnt make it go away.</p>
<p>She smiled at me pityingly. So what if I was born deaf, blind, mute, and without a sense of smell, touch, or taste? Would reality exist for me? Would I exist?</p>
<p>There is a world that exists objectively independent of you! If you die do you think the world dies with you?</p>
<p>If Im dead, she responded, then I dont exist, therefore I dont know that there is a world to believe in. Therefore for me reality doesnt exist.</p>
<p>At this point I must have looked upset because she put her hand on my shoulder and kissed me on the cheek.</p>
<p>Its ok look me up in a couple hundred years alright? Ill be waiting. She smiled one of her crazy smiles again and then put her hands over my eyes, and closed them. I felt her hands move off my face. I opened my eyes. She was gone.</p>
<p>I suddenly felt very dizzy and sat down. I picked up a pebble from the ground and looked at it I needed something for my mind to stick to, because suddenly it felt more than a little loose.</p>