How do we know that we exist? What if we are merely the thoughts of real people somewhere else, or what if we are in the dream world are someone somewhere else has created us as a dream? What if there is no such thing as existence?
-
What foolishness16% Voted for by UpsideDownFrown, ftiger, bigbuddha, kooky.
How do you know you exist? Because of your HUMANITY. Don't think you exist? Okay, go jump off a bridge, make room for those of us who actually do. But you won't, will you? No, its' because you are actually physically aware of your existence, and this is merely a question posed to achieve some pseudo-intellecual spotlight.
All this self-loathing, ignorant claims that "maybe we don't exist" can be answered by reality itself: your senses tell you that you exist. If you don't trust your own senses, then kill yourself, because you're a waste of food and water. You have senses for a reason, and sure, you can pretend that you don't, but then again, I dare you to stick your head into boiling water and tell me it doesn't hurt.
Existence is visceral; nonexistence is not. That is what differentiates non-reality from the real: you can have your leg ripped off in a dream, but it will still be there when you return to your reality. You exist. Sorry.
-
Descartes8% Voted for by Drabarno Ruv, jonesz12.
Rene Descartes would say something to the effect of "I think, therefore I am". If I am able to think, that proves that I exist according to Descartes, so it is impossible to even doubt that you do in fact exist. Granted this existence is the immaterial mind and not the physical person, but even that shows existence. How's that for you people who complain about real philosophy not being on this site?
-
our job is to exist8% Voted for by kooky, JenOwl.
unless you do something that adds a taste to this world that makes difference somehow you will not exist.. we cannot come to the world pretend to live by passing by unseen with huge indefference to life's crap and say that we ever existed.. existence is relative.. it's either a human being deserves to exist and uses his existence or else he ll be just another material, physical number to add to this planet and then a few years later die like he was never born.. one cant exist for a period of time and then die.. a real existence is when u exist forever.. like the immortal ones that passed by this planet and they are many.. let's try to be like them!
-
Foolish8% Voted for by Just Paper, And you are.
To tell someone to kill themselves because they question their own existance is foolish. Someone who questions existance is simply wondering what "reality" is real.
To be so ignorant as to exile those who question what YOU may think is obvious is disgusting.
Think twice. You may be the waste of food and water.
-
Or Course8% Voted for by Wolfen Sensei, splodgey.
Of course we exist. Even if it's a dream existance, it's still an existance nonetheless.
-
Mirror reflectionVoted for by burdened.
What is the person in the mirror? Are they real? Who believes in existence? Who is in existence, or are we just a mirror image of existence?
-
Who knows and who really cares?Voted for by cerokhol.
whether or not i live in a reality or not i dont care i care that im with my friends precieved or real but im going to continue living in my reality and if you dont wanna be my guest to leave but if it was real and you left how would that make your friends feel? but then again if there not real why not just be happy with what you have???
-
Dictionary DefinitionVoted for by A Dreamer Awake.
My personal opinion is that existence is a definition of what we are doing right now. Each of us exists differently, but what we are doing by being who and what we are is existing. To exist is the very definition of who we are. Even if we are the photonegatives of some other world, we would consider them those to exist as well, but in the opposite way. From any human perspective, we are those existing. The word was created to mean what human beings do, not what is the basis of real. In fact, real is simply another definition. I am real, the word is meant to mean that the things exists and is not flawed or different from the normal thing. I am a human, therefore by definition of words that humans created, I exist and I am real. If I am a dream in someone's head, then they are also real, but they do not exist like I do.
In conclusion, we all exist. Definition of word, complete fact. If you want to question the reality we live in, don't ask whether we are "existing" or "real", ask what is reality and how and why do we exist. Much more pertinent questions to my mind, then questioning a word that we created.
-
Of course we existVoted for by a new beginning.
Existence is real we are living entities we breathe ,feel ,think , therefore we are. If this is nothing but a dream then what difference would it make? We still would have existed even if it is in dream time , what a notion .....
-
gingerist way (well my way anyway)Voted for by stevens5613.
to help other no matter what cost and to help all those who need you even if you hate them. to care about others more then yourself abnd to always puit others infront of yourself.
-
NoVoted for by 5th position Gb.
I don't think anything exists. Why? I don't know. I just don't believe in existence.
-
FoolishVoted for by Just Paper.
To tell someone to kill themselves because they question their own existance is foolish. Someone who questions existance is simply wondering what "reality" is real.
To be so ignorant as to exile those who question what YOU may think is obvious is disgusting.
Think twice. You may be the waste of food and water.
-
I hope not...Voted for by FlawedDestiny.
I hope I exist otherwise I'm gonna be a little pissed. Although I have asked the same question you ask. But, I'm going live my life as though I exist because if I didn't I'd become invisible.... What if you stop beleiving in existence...would you just fade away?
-
wrong question to askVoted for by Bartendonysos.
I think that if you doubt existence, you're inherently contradicting yourself. I don't wanna sound like Descartes, but there's no other way to say it. The question shouldn't be if existence is real. That's like asking 'Does existence exist?' The pertinent metaphysical question is, 'what does existence consist of?' Solipsism or more?
-
Ontology and the philosophies of existenceVoted for by cafegroundzero.
No one has mentioned solipcism, that I can see, anyway.
Also, here is a link to another thread on existence, in case you missed it:
http://allphilosophy.com/topic/show/2312
Should any of you like to see some similar arguments and discussion in Yahoo Q & A, here is a link:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061019072053AACxjKk&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMhzVXVivEFQiJ4S.QmDxrraWl8r9RJzGv9c0hY3G2VYxE9Am43JNI_DlGNlLTGhjrBg--#QcAtDju0UTDiw_f8H0b1eQCIzrTSEzrsEgEf7K.aSf2vgF8SZGFC
Adding your reply:
Registration is required because of issues with spam. It is fast and free! This author would LOVE to get a comment from you, please join!
May 2, 2006
Edit | Reply
what a waste
i always thought descartes was pretty strange to bother with such a ridiculous question as "do i exist". now if you define "i" in terms of some kind of an everlasting identity such as an ego that's worth talking about. i think that our individuality as human beings is a temporary identity necessary at the physical level of existence and that identity will indeed die. is the soul the same as an eternal ego? good question! some people seem to think it is nothing more than that!soul can be something very very subtle..in buddhism there are the dualist as opposed to the non dualists. the dualists believe that the soul always remains separate from god even though it is the same in quality as god while the non dualists believe that the soul merges into god and disappears just like a drop would merge into the ocean and cease to be a drop..the experience of the dualist and the non dualist however would ultimately be the same if you really go through the steps so i think the whole question is irrelevant..the knowledge of what can be experienced as pure soul is not available to anyone on this planet! i've also heard the "individual soul" vs. the "collective soul" argument and it seems like the same one.TeChNoWC
July 21, 2006
Edit | Reply
August 2, 2006
Edit | Reply
C-a-s-m-e-r-o-k-u
February 14, 2007
Edit | Reply
November 30, 2007
Edit | Reply
median
This sounds all fine and dandy, exept for the fact that all you know is the result of your sensory perceptions. I understand that by me saying this it constitutes existance, but you have to remember all that is "real" in your mind isn't neccecarily the rock-solid truth. I guess you could say that existance is a collection of unique Consciencneses, but "does this constitute the truth?" is an unawnserable question in this respect. In my opinion we all live in our own little worlds, and all of these little worlds make up reality, but dont exacly represent it. Not unlike computer code for video games and programs. -If that makes any sense.Please register or login to comment! It's totally free