Foo - Im confused about the whole being thing

What's it like to be? How do I know that I am?

Do I exist independently of the Universe and all of you? Or would I cease in the absense of the perception of those around me? Would I become the sound the tree may or may not make when it falls and noone witnesses?

But, if there are other trees around, are they not witnesses? Is counciousness and self-realization a requisite of being? If so, do stars and germs and trees and photons not exist? What does exist? If nobody perceives which side of the coin is up when flipped in a blackened room, does that really mean that neither side is truely "up"?

What should I have for lunch today?

Etc.

Dood, put the pot down and step back reeaaaaallll slow.

:p

Koffee

cogito ergo yum- I think therefore I'm hungry


Spare ribs, dumplings, and rice, with some fruit.

Stop baiting the stoners.

The very nature of existence, according to the metaphysical nature of the universe along with natural law would seem to indicate, along with the presuppositions of my worldview from which I start all my reasoning, I would answer that your best bet is to have a Reuben from Jason's Deli if you have one near you.

If you happen to be a supporter of the strong anthropomorphic principle, then you believe the universe's existence depends on the presence of sentient beings detecting it because otherwise, there is no being detecting its existence. (If a universe has no being to detect it, does it really exist? If a sound is made--typically by a tree falling--and no one hears it, is the sound real?)

This was discussed about a month ago elsewhere in Foo. You should pay attention in Foo... all is revealed in Foo. :)

Buy a book on the subject.

Nausea -novel 'manifesto of existential angst'.
Or Being and Nothingness.

By Jean Paul Sartre.

Read Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre this might give you some insights into the philisophical issue you are dealing with. Its a very heavy book.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.


Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.


Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

I jammed my knee into the corner of my desk. It felt real.

I don't think I subscribe to the idea that conciousness creates existence, but rather the inverse of that.

I will add "Being and Nothingness" to the queue of books that I will eventually read.

I had a gyros for lunch with salt and vinegar chips and a glass of water. It was delicious.

stop making it so complicated, it's rather simple,

i drink, therefore i am...

Don't let the various jabs get to you. Your question is one pondered by philosophers for years. Conciousness and existence are topics that much has been written about. Rene Descarte said - I think therefore I am. Many of the smart comments you hear are take offs on this. You are thinking about very deep ideas, thats great.

... and after Descartes said those words he went to the bar for a drink.

The bartender asked him "Hey pal, you want a beer?"
Descartes said, "I think not." and instantly disapeared.

Don't let the various jabs get to you. Your question is one pondered by philosophers for years. Conciousness and existence are topics that much has been written about. Rene Descarte said - I think therefore I am. Many of the smart comments you hear are take offs on this. You are thinking about very deep ideas, thats great.

I heartily agree with this--my comment earlier was going with the "what's for lunch". Keep on thinking, and thinking deeply.

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
no way!

I jammed my knee into the corner of my desk. It felt real.

That sums it up: it felt real.

The Matrix is more real than you can imagine.

Philosophy is inherently dangerous and a waste of time. It can logically be extended that since the measure of your existence are your actions and achievements - not your befuddled contemplations, that mere thought (like talk) is cheap. Better to spend your time more productively - and if you must engage in pondering deep mysteries - tis much better to do so while doing something productive (riding, running, walking).

I took Intro to Philosophy in college, and understood the subject less at the end of the semester than I did at the beginning. It's the only course I truly regretted having taken.

no way!
Whatever you say Mr. Grey. :)

Live the way you think, man! :)

Read Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre this might give you some insights into the philisophical issue you are dealing with. Its a very heavy book.
Yup, at least a kilo and a half.
All seriousness aside, the solution of apparent paradoxes has been the impetus of major paradigm shifts in science. The results of the Michaelson-Morley experiments to determine the earth's motion through the aether led eventually the Special Theory of Relativity. Interferometer and cathode beam experiments led to contradictory results about the nature of light (wave or particle?): hence quantum mechanics.
So hooray for philosophical inquiry.
PS: If a tree falls in the forest , with no one to hear, it does make a sound (wavefront mechanically progagated through the atmosphere), but it does not make a sound (subjective perception).

What's it like to be? How do I know that I am?

Do I exist independently of the Universe and all of you? Or would I cease in the absense of the perception of those around me? Would I become the sound the tree may or may not make when it falls and noone witnesses?

But, if there are other trees around, are they not witnesses? Is counciousness and self-realization a requisite of being? If so, do stars and germs and trees and photons not exist? What does exist? If nobody perceives which side of the coin is up when flipped in a blackened room, does that really mean that neither side is truely "up"?

What should I have for lunch today?

Etc.

if you existed independent of the universe you wouldn't be able to interact with it... so... stop being high and buhdisty and all that.

Yup, at least a kilo and a half.
All seriousness aside, the solution of apparent paradoxes has been the impetus of major paradigm shifts in science. The results of the Michaelson-Morley experiments to determine the earth's motion through the aether led eventually the Special Theory of Relativity. Interferometer and cathode beam experiments led to contradictory results about the nature of light (wave or particle?): hence quantum mechanics.
So hooray for philosophical inquiry.
PS: If a tree falls in the forest , with no one to hear, it does make a sound (wavefront mechanically progagated through the atmosphere), but it does not make a sound (subjective perception).


As a corrilary: If a woman is b!tching at her husband and he's not paying attention did she really say anything?

here's an easier question that I don't have the answer too:

why is it that we (most of us, at least) consider a kitten to be cute, but a hippo ugly? And don't gimme the "the kitten has wide, cute eyes" bit

:p

the what? Dude the kitten is cuter, because....
because
... scrolll down to read the answer





















































































It's cuter and it has wide cute eyes and a cute furry face and a cute button nose :D

here's an easier question that I don't have the answer too:

why is it that we (most of us, at least) consider a kitten to be cute, but a hippo ugly? And don't gimme the "the kitten has wide, cute eyes" bit

:p

Human babies are a lot smaller than a hippo so any innate parental instincts we might have cannot easily be transferred to a hippo. Having said that, most people still haven't forgiven New Zealand.

EP, you need to quit tripping on acid in a big way.

As a corrilary: If a woman is b!tching at her husband and he's not paying attention did she really say anything?
:roflmao: Perhaps I should write an NIH grant for a post-doctoral fellowship someday to study this very important question. ;)