Regular followers of this blog space no doubt, are aware, that we have eternally had a penchant for attempting to solve, purportedly, “unsolvable questions,” typically, of a philosophical or logical nature. To date, our “finest hour,” may, actually, have been enjoyed, long ago, as high school students, in relating the solution to the age-old conundrum, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” As reported in an earlier essay, we, personally and proudly, revealed the logical answer, viz., that the egg came first; the same being laid by the animal (bird), immediately, preceding the chicken in Evolution’s schedule; that egg when hatched, eventuated the first chicken. Our success, from the relevant challenge, was, as reported in that earlier essay, two (2) delicious Chunky Bars, but unfortunately, no public recognition. It is especially, frustrating to us that the aphorism of this so-called, insolvable question, (chicken-egg) is still used to signify an issue’s (purported) impossibility of (empirical) resolution.
Over the years, we have been tantalized by the challenge of remote, or exotic, questions, and often frustrated by our inability to attain their explanation. Even the mysterious “black holes,” of outer space, have been identified and explained. We are advised that a “black hole,” is defined and described, as a place where gravity is so intense that even light cannot escape.
In contrast to the latter issue, relating to an exotic question, there are in existence, a myriad of tantalizing questions, relative to many everyday, simple phenomena, respecting which there appears to be no ready, or available, explanation. In point of fact, the utter complexity of the specifically chosen question, prompting this writing, regarding a familiar item, is misleadingly, disguised, by its apparent, but, nevertheless, essentially, convoluted, simplicity.
In aid of our desire to seek the answer to such labyrinthine question, shortly to be revealed, it would seem prudent to start with the revelation of some well-known, non-complex, facts. The unanswerable question relates to the simple, well-known object, known as the” bagel”. As commonly known, the bagel is a species of bread roll, shaped by hand into a (hand-size), circular shape, made from yeasted dough, boiled in water and then baked. It is immediately, recognizable by virtue of its unique, circular configuration (often with a topping, such as sesame seeds, cinnamon, onion, salt, or even, garlic.)
The revelation of the subject issue, as cautioned, predictably, will appear, to be so simple, even, tautological, as to appear comical; however, the reader has our considered, assurance that the same is metaphysically complex and, necessarily, will require a measure of clarification, prior to any attempt at its resolution. We would, respectfully, request that the reader withhold his (predictable) reaction, pending the question’s explanatory, clarification. Any (understandable) conclusion of absurdity, or possible, tautology, will, sadly, miss the true, esoteric and deep labyrinthine mystery, implicit in the challenging issue.
The subject question (kindly, resist any spontaneous, reaction, pending our, explanation) is: “Can, or does, a bagel have a hole in it?” We will undertake to redeem ourselves with the following explanation of the intrinsic rationality and context of the posed question.
Wooden planks, indisputably, are solid objects, manufactured from trees and used most often in the building trades for home construction. If one were to take a plank of wood and drill a hole in it, the plank, would thereby, have demonstrated its capability to sustain holes. The same would, by extension, demonstrate, that wooden planks, in general, can, indeed, sustain a hole. The same facility can be experienced and concluded regarding, virtually every other solid object, viz., a torn shirt, cardboard box, footwear (especially, socks), umbrella, rowboat, etc.; virtually, every solid item, except the troublesome bagel; the latter for reasons, metaphysical, logical and empirical, to be revealed.
In an attempt to simplify the present, truly, arcane question, we would again point out, if necessary, that a bagel is a baked, circular roll, and thus, by its unique and definitional design, contains a blank (or empty) space, within the confines of such baked, circular dough. What metaphysical wizard can construe the existence, or the manufacture of a hole within its conceded, classic and definitional shape? The empty center, (around which is found, the circular baked dough) does not feature the requisite solid matter, for the construction, or maintenance of what would reasonably qualify as a “hole.” Stated somewhat differently, the unique, definitional, bagel design, cannot furnish the physical subject matter, requisite to the making, or maintenance of holes. As a matter of elementary physics, an empty void will not sustain the making, or empirical existence of holes, thus, please take note that the bagel, by definition, stereotypically, has a characteristic, empty center, but, no possible hole. [QED.]
-p.
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