"In the perception of a tree we can distinguish the act of experiencing, or perceiving, from the thing experienced, or perceived"

Samuel Alexander's quote, "In the understanding of a tree we can differentiate the act of experiencing, or perceiving, from the thing experienced, or viewed", delves into the philosophical distinction in between subjective experience and unbiased truth. Here, Alexander, a prominent early 20th-century theorist, is touching upon a central theme in phenomenology and the philosophy of mind: the separation in between the observer's experience and the external things itself.

The "act of experiencing" denotes our internal, subjective engagement with the world. It encompasses all the sensory and cognitive processes that take place as we view a tree. This involves not simply the visual sight of the tree but likewise the psychological and emotions that accompany the act of observation. For instance, the tree might stimulate memories, associations, or sensations, which are distinct to the observer's individual context. The act of perceiving is active and vibrant, depending on the consciousness and intent of the observer to illuminate and integrate the inbound sensory information into a meaningful perception.

On the other hand, the "thing experienced" refers to the tree itself, the external truth that exists separately of our perception. This suggests an unbiased world that differs from our subjective experiences and analyses. The tree possesses qualities-- such as height, color, and texture-- that are consistent and exist whether they are being observed. Alexander recommends that the tree has an existence of its own, outside the impacts of human perception.

Alexander's insight has extensive implications in understanding how humans communicate with truth. It suggests a dualistic technique to understanding, where there is a clear demarcation between the inner world of experiential consciousness and the external world of physical presence. This dichotomy raises questions about the nature of reality and what it suggests to genuinely "understand" something. By identifying perception from reality, Alexander welcomes us to explore the intricacies of how we construct our understanding of the world, acknowledging that while experiences are deeply individual and subjective, there stays an objective reality that stands beyond specific understanding.