Blue Is Not Strictly A Thought

Gaius opens the door of his shed.

He flashes the torch around.

Redbacks flash bright red spots back at him.

Should we spray first? asks David.

No, says Gaius. They will ignore us. Hold this. The bicycle's there at the back.

He steps in and grasps Schopenhauer's bicycle by the handlebars.

Several redbacks leap down from the hand grips.

Gaius wheels the bicycle out of the shed.

It could do with a clean up, but it should suit your requirements, says Gaius.

Pierre-Louis looks at the bicycle, in the torchlight.

It has an old world look, says Pierre-Louis.

Schopenhauer was pleased with it, says David. He said it embodied general bicycleness.

It does, says Pierre-Louis. Mind if I try it?

If you think all the spiders have left it, says Gaius.

What do you think? asks Pierre-Louis.

I'll hose it down, says Gaius. Here, hold it.

He finds his garden hose and blasts water all over the bicycle.

Pierre-Louis gets on, and wobbles around the back garden.

Any thoughts? asks Vello.

Blue, says Pierre-Louis.

That is not strictly a thought, says David.

Is this bicycle blue? asks Pierre-Louis.

I believe so, says Gaius. In the dark though, it's difficult to tell.

No matter, says Pierre-Louis. Colour is subjective. 

Here we go, says Vello.  That's one of Schopenhauer's misconceptions.

What misconception? says Pierre-Louis. Some people see brown as plum.

That is true, says Gaius. I often see brown as plum.

Then you are colour blind says Vello. 

You must admit they are similar, says Gaius.

But not the same, says Vello. Back me up, David.

We'll determine whether it's blue in the morning, says David. 

Blue? says Vello. We're talking about brown and plum!

Gentlemen, says Pierre-Louis. In a world of endless strife should we not try to achieve a disposition towards universal beneficence?

A fine sentiment, says David.

Didn't Schopenhauer say something like it? asks Vello.

It does sound like him, says David.

Can't a person have a fine thought around here without it being attributed to another philosopher? says Pierre-Louis.

Of course he can, says Gaius. Now let's go inside for a nightcap.

They leave Schopenhauer's bicycle propped up near the back door and go in for a night cap.

The redback spiders return to the shed, with a new topic of conversation. 

Whether (or not) colour is subjective.