Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site digi-g.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!stolaf!umn-cs!digi-g!brian From: brian@digi-g.UUCP (Brian Westley) Newsgroups: net.philosophy Subject: Re: Why do mirrors reverse left & right, not up & down? Message-ID: <130@digi-g.UUCP> Date: Thu, 2-Feb-84 14:57:22 EST Article-I.D.: digi-g.130 Posted: Thu Feb 2 14:57:22 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 8-Feb-84 07:22:15 EST References: <533@bbncca.ARPA> Organization: DigiGraphic Systems Corp., Mpls. MN Lines: 12 "Why do mirrors reverse left & right, not up & down" Mirrors reverse, period. You are trying to map the most natural frame of reference (i.e. imagining yourself stepping through the mirror into the 'other' person's shoes) onto your reflection, when the two other mappings (pitching forward into a handstand into the 'other' person's shoes, or simply stepping forward into his shoes without turning around to face to same way) now seem to result in a mirror reversing up & down, or back & front, respectively. You'll notice that in these mappings, left & right are not reversed. If humans were not bilaterally symmetrical, this would be more obvious. Fiddler crabs aren't confused by mirrors. (signed) Merlyn Leroy