Jason Salvador
Dr. T. A. Losoncy
Discussion Paper
“Since ideas are not short nor tall, not heavy nor light, not skinny nor fat, they do not
exist and are not real.”
I agree with this statement. According to a dictionary, the definition of real is,
“A. Being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verifiable existence, B. True and
actual; not imaginary, alleged, or ideal” (Webster’s Dictionary, 1996). An idea is not real
for many reasons. In order for something to be real, it must have verifiable existence.
How can one possibly prove the existence of an idea? Ideas exist only in one’s mind. No
one can see an idea, point an idea out on the street, or kick an idea. A person may allege
that the idea does exist in their mind and offer that as evidence that an idea exist, but as
the definition states, something that is real cannot be alleged or imaginary. In fact, that is
all an idea is…a product of your imagination. If ideas were real, then the ideas
themselves would have to be true in reality. Lets say that I have an idea that I can fly
simply by flapping my arms like a bird with no other assistance of any kind. Everyone
knows this idea is absurd and could never be true in reality. Well if my idea cannot be
true in reality, then how can my idea be real? I cannot be real. My idea that I can fly
without any assistance is an imaginary ideal that I may have, but it is not real. This is
why ideas are not real.