There are 8 choices, 9 votes for questioningsoul's debate

Are we truly here?

Are we truly here? Do we really exist? Or are we a figment of imagination? But then how does that work?


  • wait now.. there's more hear

    than meats the eye.

    TRULY HERE does not equal REALLY EXIST. The two together blend the epistemological and the ontological. I would respect their differences.

    the real does exist, by definition. *..truly here.." asks for a current lingusitic proof of the present moment, a logical nonstarter. as if Cartesian Meditations lead to the answer..

    22%  Voted for by ALLGameGuide, ennoia.
    View 2 comments
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  • A thought

    The term "I think, therfore I am" basically summarizes my thoughts on existentialism. simply put; If you can consider that you may or may not exist, you are thinking, thinking is something, existance is merely the acknowledgement of life. Thought is living.

    Whether or not this life is true to socialist views, who knows, maybe the guy who's toenail we may or may not exist within.. (x file music & molder looking into the abyss' of the unknown)

    Voted for by Indifferentopinion.
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  • Dualism can't solve it

    I think the question of whether or not we exist has the same foundation like all the other great dualistic questions, like the relation of body and soul, or good and evil. Now the question is about existence and nonexistence. Perhaps these eternal problem can be symbolized by a spinning coin: there are two opposite sides, each coming into view after the other, each cannot exist without the other yet they remain so antithetic against each other. We tend to see it all as we're in fact walking on that coin, equally spinning with this apparently eternal motion, this cycling of yin and yang. From time to time we think we have gathered enough insights to merge a thesis and antithesis to a new synthesis, only to see this is just another thesis waiting for an antithesis to show up. There's no escape from this dichotomy. Or as Zen teaches us: there will always be a sound when we clap our hands. But perhaps it is the purpose of whole spirituality to grow beyond the dualistic surface of the coin, yet live it from within, without any trace of dichotomy but with the acceptance that the coin simply IS. The shift of awareness then goes from the dualistic to the nondualistic: "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" So imo we can never answer your question (and the others) by thinking dualistically.. the dichotomy will only vaporize by accepting what simply Is (note: by Isness I don't mean another layer of existence-nonexistence duality, but a transcendence towards the realization that all the dichotomies simply Are what they Are: dualistic ripples on a nondualistic, bottomless ocean in which existence Is nonexistence, intrinsically woven into a nondualistic Isness).

    Voted for by Ygg.
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  • Just a thought

    Do we exist purely because we perceive that we exist? If a tree falls, but no one is around to hear it, does it really make a sound? If I'm the only one in the universe to perceive the universe, does the universe really exist?

    Maybe I am just perceiving all of you. Maybe none of you actually exist except in the way that I perceive that you exist. Maybe this world only exists in my mind and everyone exists in that world. You never know and I don't think these questions can ever really be answered.

    Voted for by Sharcu.
    View 4 comments
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  • YES aqnd NO

    As far as i know you were never here. Atleast until now! But i can understand perfectly that in most people s mind they are here to stay! even if they never realy came!

    Voted for by socrates from.
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  • Even if we weren't
    Hey, even if we weren't real, would that stop us from trying to live? No. Would that make me stop caring if I live or die? Not me. I think that even if we didn't actually exist, we still should take care of our home - reality or figment of imagination.
    Voted for by AthenaWisdom.
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  • I'm the only one here
    The rest of you are just figments of my imagination, without my need to test myself there would be no need of you, and without the need of anonymity I would be able to control even what you think are your thoughts, but you only think so because I think you think so.



    This is BS but at least its existential

    I could look up some bigger more convoluted words if the need arises
    Voted for by Dwn.
    View 5 comments
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  • Where is here?
    some parts of you say something exists, other fraction of you contradict that idea. Is this really a matter of reality? or just plain relative identification?
    Voted for by Molzahn.
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