My first day as an undergraduate student was on Monday, 9th October 1978. I remember it well. At 11:00 am, we had our first lecture from our head of department. It was the first in a series he gave entitled The Biological Basis of Human Action. Affectionately known as Prof, our head of department was not an unpleasant fellow. However, he could exude considerable gravitas. Nobody wanted to upset him.
Upon entering the room, the first thing he said - while also writing it on the blackboard - was, Reality is a state of mind brought about by low blood alcohol concentration. It was a light-hearted comment, no doubt meant as an ice-breaker. Not knowing at that time what to expect, it certainly got us all relaxed. He did not go on to elaborate at length. It was something left open-ended.
Perhaps it was his usual opening gambit with a group of new students.
Perhaps it was an off-the-cuff remark for only that occasion. I do not know.
However, this statement has frequently come to mind over the intervening decades. Most often, I remember it after having had a pint (or two) of beer!
After some beer, the world does seem a little different. Alcohol affects one’s mood. For the better or worse, reality does take on a different feel.
The changeability of mood raises questions about the world - at least as we perceive it. If my perception of reality is changeable, how do I know which perceived reality is the real reality?
One might answer that it is one unaffected by alcohol. But how do I know that my alcohol-free state reality is being perceived accurately? Does not being hungry or thirsty also have an effect? Or any number of other influences?
Prof’s opening statement has posed for me a lasting question. To this question, I do not have an answer. However, pondering the question continues to provide much pleasure. (Which also has an effect on my sense of reality.)
