The Most Fundamental Question of Existence

[Counterpoint]

Nothing: no universe, no galaxies, no stars, no light, no planets. There is NOTHING (nothing physical). What there is, is consciousness, and thought.

Consciousness is something, not nothing. (Whether the “something” is physical or nonphysical is NOT relevant to its existence.)

 

[gmx2014]

Consciousness is something, not nothing. (Whether the something is physical or nonphysical is not relevant to its existence.)

Consciousness no physical property, just as nothingness has no physical property. There is not anything there, physically. In that, reality does not exist. The Universe does not exist. Nothing exists, and we, some of us, are consciously aware of it.

“science” thinks that consciousness is a product of the human brain. They think consciousness has origin in physicality. But it doesn’t.

In the state of nothingness, we know that physicality is an illusion. But while here, in physical existence, it all seems so real (because of it’s physical properties).

 

[Counterpoint]

The definition of existence is reality. Physicality. Anything outside of that has *other distinctions.
*

Merriam-Webster defines “reality” as “something that actually exists or happens.” That’s the definition that I am going with. And if you do not agree with that definition, that’s fine. But we we will not be able to continue this discussion. Because if we cannot agree on the meaning of words, then it will not be possible to verbally communicate with each other.

 

[gmx2014]

Merriam-Webster defines “reality” as “something that actually exists or happens.” That’s the definition that I am going with. And if you do not agree with that definition, that’s fine. But we we will not be able to continue this discussion. Because it is not possible to verbally communicate with each other unless we come to an agreement on the meaning of words.

“something that actually exists”. So go ahead then and describe “something that actually exists”.

 

[Counterpoint]

“something that actually exists”. So go ahead then and describe “something that actually exists”.

The first-person experience of my own subjectivity and of an objective world which appears to be other than myself. That’s something that exists.

 

[gmx2014]

The first-person experience of my own subjectivity and of an objective world which appears to be other than myself. That’s something that exists.

Yes, experience is always (always) where the Truth is (which is how and why I understand nothingness *and *the origin of the Universe in the way that I do. I *experienced *it, but even in saying that is a bit of an understatement).

Here’s the definitions (and antonyms) of the word actual
thefreedictionary.com/actual

Basically, we live in a paradox, where things are both true and not true, at the same time. Real and not real, at the same time. In one instance of life, the Universe is very real but in another instance, it is a total illusion (ie “not real”).

I sometimes explain existence (“reality”) as being the “on” position while nothingness is the “off” position. When we’re “on”, we have physical properties. When we’re “off”, we’re only temporal (of the mind, which is akin to atmospheric, non-physicality).

Consider it this way: out of body experience / astral travel. The physical body is in one place, and that is “real”. But the self / spirit / soul of the person, the essence of them, or even their consciousness, is very much NOT where the body is. The experience is “real” but in an entirely different way. There are other descriptions and attributes, for what constitutes real in that instance.

 

[Counterpoint]

Basically, we live in a paradox, where things are both true and not true, at the same time. Real and not real, at the same time. In one instance of life, the Universe is very real but in another instance, it is a total illusion (ie “not real”).

A dream is an illusion of the mind; nevertheless an illusion is still something - an experience that requires an explanation.

 

[gmx2014]

A dream is an illusion of the mind; nevertheless an illusion is still something - an experience that requires an explanation.

You might really like this, then.

I sometimes see people in my mind, then later meet them in reality. Another way of saying it is: I see people in my mind, then actually meet them on the ground-level reality. Physicality is more “real” than what takes place in the mental dimension.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

Literally, “nothing” cannot exist. We we say the universe was created from nothing, we mean just that. The universe was created from no-thing. There was no pre-existence that it arose out of. This contradicts those who say that the universe is cyclic, continually being born and dying and rising again like the Phoenix from its own ashes.

It is more sensible to believe that the universe was created from nothing for a purpose than to say that it is eternally creating and re-creating itself out of something for no purpose.

 

[ynotzap]

FWIW Nothing needs no explanation because it doesn’t exist. Something needs no explanation because it is self-evident.

 

[gmx2014]

Literally, “nothing” cannot exist. We we say the universe was created from nothing, we mean just that. The universe was created from no-thing. There was no pre-existence that it arose out of. This contradicts those who say that the universe is cyclic, continually being born and dying and rising again like the Phoenix from its own ashes.

It is more sensible to believe that the universe was created from nothing for a purpose than to say that it is eternally creating and re-creating itself out of something for no purpose.

Yes, there is pre-existence (which is also called nothing or nothingness). Were you there? I was.

 

[gmx2014]

FWIW Nothing needs no explanation because it doesn’t exist. Something needs no explanation because it is self-evident.

Nothing is real (true).
Nothing exists (true).

Nothing is something, and it exists.

What is nothing?

Nothing is the time and place from which the Universe explodes into existence. Nothing is also called nothingness, or pre-existence. In nothingess, there is no universe, no galaxies, no light, no suns, no stars, no planets (and no human beings). None of that exists, physically. What does exist is consciousness and thought.

We *are *thoughts. We communicate by thinking to each other (a sort of telepathy).

The Universe explodes into existence when I remember something. The very instant I remember it, BANG!

Period.

 

[Counterpoint]

FWIW Nothing needs no explanation because it doesn’t exist. Something needs no explanation because it is self-evident.

What exactly do you mean it is self-evident? Do you mean the explanation is self-evident?

 

[tonyrey]

Literally, “nothing” cannot exist. We we say the universe was created from nothing, we mean just that. The universe was created from no-thing. There was no pre-existence that it arose out of. This contradicts those who say that the universe is cyclic, continually being born and dying and rising again like the Phoenix from its own ashes.

It is more sensible to believe that the universe was created from nothing for a purpose than to say that it is eternally creating and re-creating itself out of something for no purpose.

… :yup: Otherwise purpose is an illusion or it is the product of purposeless activity. :nope:…

 

[gmx2014]

… :yup: Otherwise purpose is an illusion or it is the product of purposeless activity. :nope:…

The overall purpose of life (human beings)

1. to reach out and touch your thoughts
2. to have and to hold
3. to see you again

 

[ynotzap]

What exactly do you mean it is self-evident? Do you mean the explanation is self-evident?

Before you question, or look for an explanation of something, you must accept it’s existence, and that is self evident. So it’s existence is the priority that needs to be in place before it needs an explanation.

 

[Counterpoint]

Before you question, or look for an explanation of something, you must accept it’s existence, and that is self evident. So it’s existence is the priority that needs to be in place before it needs an explanation.

I accept that something exists and that its existence is self-evident. But you said “something needs no explanation because it is self-evident.” It still requires an explanation why it exists or how it exists.

 

[ynotzap]

Scepticism pure and simple states or implies that you can’t be sure of anything. They trap themselves in a rational absurdity, and contradict themselves. They deny "self-evidence. The acknowledgement of somethings existence is the beginning of knowledge. Self evidence is not self-evident to some. You will find this denial of self-evidence in the Abortion issues for example. You can be sure of something by their self-evidence. We seek answers because we are following our natural desire to know, implanted in our human nature by God We seek to know the truth, ultimately it is God, who is Exsisstence.

 

[Counterpoint]

Scepticism pure and simple states or implies that you can’t be sure of anything. They trap themselves in a rational absurdity, and contradict themselves. They deny "self-evidence. The acknowledgement of somethings existence is the beginning of knowledge. Self evidence is not self-evident to some. You will find this denial of self-evidence in the Abortion issues for example. You can be sure of something by their self-evidence. We seek answers because we are following our natural desire to know, implanted in our human nature by God We seek to know the truth, ultimately it is God, who is Exsisstence.

It doesn’t appear that you even bothered to read my previous response.

 

[ynotzap]

We need to know why things exist because we have a natural desire to know the truth which is the object of the desire of our minds. If nothing existed, there would be nothing to know. I read your response. Apparently you didn’t understand mine Why would we need to explain the existence of something, if it wasn’t our desire to know, and when we know where do you think it’s going to lead ? Perhaps I’ m jumping ahead too fast.
Are you familiar with scepticism and its problems and how they relate to the existence of things? Don’t mean to cause you problems, if I did, I’m sorry