The Pencil

A fun, but perhaps humbling, thought experiment.

Part of this thought experiment is not actually mine, at least not entirely. It’s an idea I heard years ago on a podcast, and it has stuck with me ever since. So, whoever out there came up with it originally, kudos to you!

So here it is:

For some reason, reality always becomes clearer when you’re placed on a deserted island, so this is where we will start. On this island, alone, you have one task. You must create a #2 pencil. And this pencil must be an exact functioning replica of the pencil below. No crude imitations that more or less work like the real thing. We are looking for the real deal.

All the raw resources needed for this task are present on the island, and you have unlimited time, but not much else.

Also, in this fever dream, I am God. Since I’m a super nice guy/God, there are no threats to your life on this island, so all your time can be dedicated to art of pencil making. However, since I’m an apparently insane God obsessed with #2 pencils, if you stray from the task of creating said pencil you shall be smited (smote? smoten?…smitten?) and sent to a fiery inferno for the rest of eternity. So, no shifting the paradigm and building a boat, or MacGyver-ing a cellphone to get Amazon pencil delivery.