Memes, for anyone who might still be resisting joining the 21st century, are pithy quotes, often decorated with a photo, that people can put up on various social media formats.  Picture a sort of virtual bumper sticker: enough words to sound wise, make a point and offend without any real depth or substance.  (And, yes, I've been guilty of sharing some, too). Recently I saw a meme that said the following:

"Philosophy is looking for a cat in a dark room.

"Mysticism is looking for a cat in a dark room where there is no cat

"Theism is looking for a cat in a dark room and claiming to have found the cat.

"Science is looking for a cat in a dark room, so you use a flashlight."

See what I mean: it sounds wise, makes a point, and has the potential to offend believers with thinner skin than I have.  And it's lacking any real depth of thought.

For example: Where did the cat come from? How did I end up in this dark room? Where did I get the understanding that I was in the dark? Who gave the inventor of the flashlight the know how to make one? What if the inventor of the flashlight was a theist; does that negate his contribution to finding the cat? What if the flashlight isn't bright enough to light up the corner where the cat is hiding? What gave me the capacity to care about finding the cat? What if a philosopher, mystic or theist stumbles upon the cat in the dark and catches him? Does a philosopher, mystic or theist who uses the flashlight to find the cat cease to be a philosopher, mystic or theist?  Are there moral limits on what I can do once I find the cat: sell it? abuse it? keep it to myself? Hide it in another dark room?  Where did the self awareness come from to have determined that I am, in fact, a philosopher, mystic or theist when clearly the cat hasn't been concerned about such questions? And ultimately, isn't it true that the brighter the flashlight, the more it confirms the philosopher, mystic and theist were right about the cat all along?