sweep

the same as 'the universe' occurred at some point, so did someone win both contests at some point. Ludicrously Improbable, admittedly, but given enough time it HAD to happen, yes.

If we admit the negation of any forms of nothingness, in which 'nothing moves', then there is no time. If there is no time, there is no form. Thereby beginnings and ends are only transformations, for an end implies nothing. The point is that we all get lucky sometimes, and sometimes not.

So, it isn't really existence that doesn't make sense, only the forms in their changing, otherwise we (I) try to capture reality, which is more like a photograph than anything, really.

7thangel

Not really. When I see dogs take good care of their puppies, it does not mean they are more loviing than I am.

Some Loser

This is not the easiest answer to digest, but it is what I have come up with so far. I have always had a hard time with this problem, but my beliefs are generally as follows. Existence is relative. To me, the universe exists. To some unconscious object, nothing exists. Neither point of view is favored so both are correct depending on who (or what) you are. Once you die, nothing will exist. One might say, "But our universe must be somehow preferred. Wouldn't it be a great coincidence if everyone, while existing, imagined themselves to be coexisting together in the same universe?" The answer to this question, I argue, is no. The reasoning behind it is a bit lengthy though, but goes something like this.

Our world is all that affects us. If something does not affect us then how do we do whether or not it exists? We don’t. If we say that there is a parallel world that is separate from our own, then we can not know whether or not it exists as long as it does not affect us. We can only say that it could exist. Realize that as long as a world that could (or could not) exist does not affect us, its existence is actually irrelevant to us. Thus, I say that relative to us it does not exist as long as it does not affect us. Therefore parallel worlds do not exist relatively speaking. Although they COULD exist theoretically.

There are other worlds though besides the parallel. Our universe, from what I understand, allows for three different worlds. There is the “real” world where we are right now. There is the mind altered world - “dream world” - which comes about from manipulating our brain’s sensory areas (sleep, hallucinations, etc.). There is also the world of the unconscious where we exist before we are born and after we die, for example. Notice that the latter two are actually included within and can be fully accounted for by the “real” world.

Is it possible though that there is a more “real” world than this one? In other words, is something like “The Matrix” possible which would make this world only a dream within it? The answer to this question is the same as that to the parallel world question. Until that world begins to affect us (if it ever does), then it does not exist relative to us. It only “could” exist. Its existence in fact is irrelevant. This brings about an interesting conclusion. Worlds that are “superior” to others (meaning they enclose other worlds) only “could” exist from the point of view of those existing in its “inferior” worlds. For example, if you go to sleep, the “real” world ceases to exist to you until it begins to affect your “dream world” self. So when you have to get up and go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, your dream self is feeling an affect from your real world self. However, if your real world self never made any further affect to your dream self after you fell asleep, then the real world would cease to exist permanently for you. Due to the nature or our “real” world this could not happen - eventually we get hungry or something similar. However, this eventual interruption is NOT quite as necessary between the “real” and unconscious worlds. At one time, before you were born, nothing existed for you. Then, the superior “real” world affected you (created a consciousness for you) and you began to exist along with the rest of the universe (so it seems to you). However, when you die, you will once again go into the unconscious world and the “real” world will presumably never affect you again. Thus you will be in an eternal state of nonexistence. Of course it is always possible that you could exist again if the “real” world were to put your atoms back together correctly, but I am not going to get into this possibility.

To answer the original question, it is not a mere coincidence that everyone is here together coexisting in the same world. The reason for this is because the people here are not the only people that “could” exist. They only account for some of the people that “could” exist in all the possible parallel worlds. In each world, perhaps, everyone could be wondering why theirs is the only one or why it is the special or “preferred” world. I would even say that these worlds not only could exist, but they do exist for those who live in them. If you think it is absurd to talk about things that could exist, remember that to us, I agree, they don’t exist. From our point of view only our world exists. From your perspective, nothing will exist once you die- not even you. So if you are thinking that existence is unexplained or unnecessary, you will find that this holds true in the unconscious world since there is no existence. However, in the “real” world existence is quite necessary - necessary only because it can be. So it is.

xeren

7th Angel, you remind me of this girl i knew my 1st year of college: I would be having some deep intellectual discussion with someone, and she would waltz in and say,"whatcha guys talking about!?" in the most annoying voice possible, and I would completely lose my place in the discussion.

Regardless of what you believe, 7th Angel, as the original post said, positing a god doesn't solve the question. To put the question in Christian terms so it can blow your mind as much as it does ours,

Why does God exist instead of nothing? Why Something instead of nothing?

If you can come up with a good answer for that, I may just become a Christian.

-xeren

John Page

I agree that the phenomenon of "existence" needs to be perceived to be known. I think caution is needed, though, since it can be experimentally proven that things "exist" even though they were not immediately perceived.

One example is a man who takes a photograph and therefore understands the cause and effect involved in photography. Take the man to a room which he has never seen and allow him to take a photograph through a hole without him looking through the whole. When the man compares the developed photograph with the image he sees when entering the (undisturbed) room he sees that the room existed prior to his ever becoming conscious of it. Arguably, therefore, objects exist prior to consciousness of the objects.

This is a key test against idealism and solipsism and for a common reality in which our consciousnesses reside and communicate about.

Cheers, John

joedad

Existence makes personal sense because it is a word used to describe an obvious condition of the Universe, of which I am a part.

Non existence is the thing that I cannot get my brain around and perhaps because it has no meaning. I cannot even begin to imagine what that could possibly describe anymore, as I have become so deconditioned.

Existence appears to have no opposite that is not fantasy, which is for me a very reassuring feeling.

Asking something weird like "Where did the Universe (and perhaps greater Cosmos) come from?" can only be answered, "It's never been anywhere else."

joe

fwh

Actually there are three questions I ask myself from time to time.

1) Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does matter exist?

2) How is it that I can sit back and contemplate why there is something rather than nothing? I have a mind or conciousness which is able to contemplate my existence and that of matter. Which simply amazes me!

3) Last, but certainly not least, I and other humans seem to be the only things which exist that know that our existence is finite. In other words, we know ahead of time we will die in the near future. Other organisms may grieve about death, but don't seem to understand the inevitability of death.

Edited for grammar and spelling

Infinity Lover

The opposite of existence, nonexistence, doesn't exist, and that's why existence does. It doesn't have a friggin' choice.

As far as the "meaning" of your life goes... it's perhaps not so much that there must be a meaning for our existence, but rather that we're a part of existence in need of meaning and with the ability to ascribe meaning to things. But that's a tough one to do beforehand. Enjoying it, and leaving something valuable and beautiful behind comes to mind. Besides that I guess the whole trick is to lead your life in such a way, that when you look back at things it's been a worthwhile experience.

Grad Student Humanist

The fact that I exist, or that the world exists, does not bother me at all and I'm perfectly willing to just accept existence.

What keeps me up at night is knowing that one day I will cease to exist.

Answerer

I think the best answer to "why we are here?" is because of our ignorance.