I dont to know that I exist to know that I exist. Not many people consider Descarte’s “super-knowledge” as the standard knowledge.
I for one am a Fundamentalist. There are, of course, many variations but a couple of my fundamental beliefs are of the existence of myself and of the external world.
I used to delve deeply into the ideas of skeptisism but I later found the idea silly and not very pragmatic.
All these replys and not one person has quotedd it!
‘Cogito Ergo Sum’
You should read the Topic called ‘Two Mistakes and Scepticism’. Just click the link on the quote line
So, do I exist when I am unconscious, or otherwise have no awareness? Or do I slip into non-existence every night?
It sure is good luck that I usually find my body the next morning where I thought I had left it.
(So, do I exist when I am unconscious, or otherwise have no awareness? Or do I slip into non-existence every night?)
Well, for one, you can’t be sure you slip into non-existence because you are not conscious. It is entirely possible for you to exist in an unconscious state.
You can, however, be sure you exist while you are awake and conscious, because nonexistent things cannot be conscious. Therefore, IF you are conscious, THEN you exist.
Of course… the real "youâ€, that is, your consciousness itself, COULD exist on a dimension unknown to us. Therefore, your “you” or “self” COULD actually leave your body during periods of unconsciousness and that would mean that it is entirely possible for you to actually “find your body the next morning where you thought you had left it”.
BUT
Unfortunately, we can’t prove just yet… or possibly at all for that matter whether or not you actually are separate from your body.
It is likely outside our intelligence… like a family of ducks trying to figure out their DNA sequences.
I have no new insight into this question other than what can easily be read or independently thought of, and thus can randomly exist in dozens of different systems of thought. Yet, I’m always tempted to send a hard jab to the jaw of someone who poses the question of, “How do I know you exist?” haha - that act is a persuasive response. (Note that I said ‘poses the question’, not ‘asks the question’ - there is a difference)
read my signature…
-Imp
Kind of like… no, JUST like when I said…
[size=59]
You can, however, be sure you exist while you are awake and conscious, because nonexistent things cannot be conscious. Therefore,[/size] IF you are conscious, THEN you exist.
I GAME THEREFORE I AM.
A very good signature of a guy on MFO video game/philosophy forum.
I play video games, if I don’t exist, I can’t play video games, so it’s no doubt that I exist.
Does it matter?
Would you stop doing the things you do in life if you knew you don’t exist?
And by the way: Is living in a dream non-existence?
Well… most of it has been said in this topic. Just felt the urge to write something down here… first post! Yay!
What is this, “I,” that we all have; what is it exactly that we’re in possession of?
Is it anything to do with that name your parents gave you, or your social security card number, or your marriage certificate, or the “country,” you inhabit?
I think not! Take away all the names and what are you left with? A thing, stuff, without identity. A nameless being. . .
not even that… there is change and flux… the next moment is not guaranteed…
-Imp
By the dictionary, to exist means, to continue to live, live, or "continuance in living. That is how we define existence.
Now, let’s say a person faints and so he loses consciousness. Even though this person does not know that he exists but we know that he does. Similarly, plants exist but I believe they have no consciousness and so they don’t know that they exist similar to the person who lost consciousness and so does not know that he exists.
As for those who consider existence to be an illusion or a mystery, it doesn’t have to be. We define existence as living and not dead, so, that means we exist if we are alive. That’s our perspective. If some alien or God perceives our existence as something else it’s their prerogative, our definition of existence still remains the same, and that is - that we exist!
If so, the dream is existance,
Go ahead try and wake up Neo
Hi everybody,
I think that there is such a thing as doubting too much… Would you actually feel that you do not exist?
Also, certain words like “dream” have a tendency of having a mind of their own. As I recall it is used to describe what happens when we sleep…
no you do not exist.
All we humans have is memory. If memory exists, then you exist.
You are just information really, like data on a data disk.
reckon i made a satisfactory explination?
No I don’t reckon that you, “made a satisfactory explination.”
We don’t exist just because we have a “memory” or we would be just like computers. We have a heart too that just does not perform to stimuli or info, it chooses to take its own course too. Remember, “The heart has reasons which reason does not understand?” Perhaps you’ve never been in love before, perhaps you’ve never made an irrational decision, perhaps you’ve never been a deviant when no harm was to come to another? Perhaps you’ve never been out in the rain on purpose? Eh? Perhaps YOU are some “info” or “data on a disk” but we are not so. So please don’t generalize it that we are just some, “data on a disk” or “info.”
one exists only because one claims one exists… nothing more…
there is no deep metaphysical reason, no spiritual reason, nothing…
the past is gone and the future never comes…
there is the moment, there is now, I exist because I claim I exist.
period.
to blame or credit anything else is delusional…
-Imp
Correction BeenaJain,
On the question of “self”, what makes our consciousness is simple memory.
A person thinks the same way as a computer.
Yes, everyone has different data, that’s what makes us different. I may lack certain data, therefore I am different to you.
