Are we Alone?

[BinaryMage]

If your going to be like that, define existence in a world without reality.

Or hell, the definition of existence already has it really, it's objective.

Thus the classic quote " I think therefore I am"

It's as simple as that, I perceive that something is around me, that I am a human. It's my reality.

That's a good thing about real in the broad sense.




I started thinking about questions like this waaaay to early in my life.

Wikipedia defines reality as "the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or may be thought to be." The entire definition of reality is that it is not someone's personal views; it is the true state of things. My point was that it's impossible to prove that anything is reality.

 

[pantherx12]

Wikipedia defines reality as "the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or may be thought to be." The entire definition of reality is that it is not someone's personal views; it is the true state of things. My point was that it's impossible to prove that anything is reality.

Wikipedia? Cmon man at least use something that is a bit more reliable.

The sentence you just quoted doesn't even make sense.


Look at the definition for exist. "Have objective reality or being

- remains of these baths still exist on the south side of the Pantheon
- there existed no organization to cope with espionage"


For something to be objective in the first instance it requires perception ( I.E a mind or computer etc) so "may be thought to be" falls down the pan, as processing what we experience is a thought.

So that makes everything not real. oh noes : [




Sorry if structure is a bit loose in this post, I'm not so great at converting thought to text.

 

[wolf]

I just wanted to chime in and say that this thread is a cracking good read chaps, keep it up!

reminds me of oh-so-many talks just like this Ive already had with good (interesting) friends.

 

[Kreij]

My point was that it's impossible to prove that anything is reality.

Sure you can.

Take a pointy stick pierce it through your foot.
Did it really hurt?
Did you really bleed all over your mom's new white carpet?
Is your friend really laughing hysterically at you?
Can you change your perception and make the really stupid thing you just did go away?

No.
Why?
Reality got in the way.

 

[digibucc]

i have a hard with the "reality is relative" idea.
not because it's difficult to grasp, it's actually really simple and easy.

but aside from making it's speaker sound deep, it does absolutely nothing.

ok guys, reality is relative, you can't prove it. I guess that means we should
all just stop talking about pesky things like science and evidence then.

really though, what does it do other than attempt to end the conversation?
if we all were to agree with your statement, there would be nothing left to say.
that's why it's philosophy, and left to such. as science it is unhelpful and even
harmful. yes it has to be recognized but don't say it as though it is an important
point. if all this is fake, what's it matter?

 

[kid41212003]

Sure you can.

Take a pointy stick pierce it through your foot.
Did it really hurt?
Did you really bleed all over your mom's new white carpet?
Is your friend really laughing hysterically at you?
Can you change your perception and make the really stupid thing you just did go away?

No.
Why?
Reality got in the way.

Those are just brain signals, and we see what we want to see. Why crazy people are crazy? Because their reality and ours are different and because they see what we don't see.

 

[BinaryMage]

Wikipedia? Cmon man at least use something that is a bit more reliable.

The sentence you just quoted doesn't even make sense.


Look at the definition for exist. "Have objective reality or being

- remains of these baths still exist on the south side of the Pantheon
- there existed no organization to cope with espionage"


For something to be objective in the first instance it requires perception ( I.E a mind or computer etc) so "may be thought to be" falls down the pan, as processing what we experience is a thought.

I think you just agreed with me. My point was that reality doesn't exist, or as you said, that nothing is real.

And as for the Wikipedia thing, no source is perfectly reliable. A recent study showed that Wikipedia is nearly as accurate as the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Sure you can.

Take a pointy stick pierce it through your foot.
Did it really hurt?
Did you really bleed all over your mom's new white carpet?
Is your friend really laughing hysterically at you?
Can you change your perception and make the really stupid thing you just did go away?

No.
Why?
Reality got in the way.

All of that is easy to fake using technology. It's just brain signals. "Reality", by definition, cannot exist.

 

[KainXS]

if theres no reality are kittens real, is the sky really blue, I guess its ok for me to go bang like 100 hookers down the road because I DON'T EXIST, How can i get the herpes or the aids if I don't exist

right.

 

[Velvet Wafer]

if theres no reality are kittens real, is the sky really blue, I guess its ok for me to go bang like 100 hookers down the road because I DON'T EXIST, How can i get the herpes or the aids if I don't exist

right.

obviously, a few people in this thread have still not watched "the Matrix"
after that film, only the very stubborn ones, that hate new ideas, are left, that think what they see is the whole reality

 

[Jaffakeik]

I thought a lot about our alien friends or whatever they called.But in reality(in our reality we are alone in our outer space universe or whatever it calls).Olny exclusion would be we are thinking about it its because there are alternative realities where we are somehow linked and got those nasty thoughs about other life forms.But in reality we are just talking about ourselves.

 

[Winston_008]

Nope we aren't alone, there are spiritual beings, such as God, angels, demons and satan. All of which our natural eyes cannot normally see. As people have said before just because you cant see them doesn't mean they are not there.

Yes Iam a Christian btw

 

[digibucc]

gee, thanks for that.

your engaging scientific insight is admirable.

 

[Easy Rhino]

have you guys discussed Plato's 'allegory of the cave' as it pertains to life on other planets yet?

 

[mlee49]

Go back to your box wine Easy.

 

[Velvet Wafer]

have you guys discussed Plato's 'allegory of the cave' as it pertains to life on other planets yet?

thats actually one of my favorite philosophical stories... applies to rusty thinking in general, in my opinion

 

[trickson]

I am alone , ever night I look up into the star filled sky and I keep wishing they would come take me away , Well I am still here and still Alone . If they are up there why not just revile yourselves ? They can't be scared or are they ?

 

[stinger608]

Is there really other intelligent life forms? That, as has already been pondered, is something that is wondered every day by many.

My take on it:

Is humanity so ignorant to think that we are so damn special in the universe that we could be the only living intelligent beings? I personally think not. We are a spec in the universe!

Ask yourself this; where is the end of the universe? What is beyond the end?

For the original question; are we alone? Hell no!

 

[theJesus]

have you guys discussed Plato's 'allegory of the cave' as it pertains to life on other planets yet?

Never heard of it, but this paragraph from the entry on wikipedia has me interested:

"In the dialogue, Socrates describes a group of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall by things passing in front of a fire behind them, and begin to ascribe forms to these shadows. According to Socrates, the shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall do not make up reality at all, as he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners."

 

[Velvet Wafer]

I am alone , ever night I look up into the star filled sky and I keep wishing they would come take me away , Well I am still here and still Alone . If they are up there why not just revile yourselves ? They can't be scared or are they ?

i suggest you read some books of David Icke, and listen to the words of Credo Mutwa... these Guys can surely tell a few interesting Stories

 

[Easy Rhino]

the allegory of the cave hits on many points.

first, you can't really discuss things like life on other planets from a scientific point of view when you dont have any evidence for it. sure, you can argue the statistical implausibility of there not being any intelligent life in the entire universe other than ours but that in fact is a mathematical argument and not one that proves intelligent life exists elsewhere.

secondly, if intelligent life does exist outside of our planet will people accept it as a reality if not directly confronted. like the allegory of the cave, reality is simply what we are subjected to. sure, there is an objective truth but knowing it is a tricky act when you in fact are chained with your back to a wall and you consider shadows real beings.

 

[Jaffakeik]

Nope we aren't alone, there are spiritual beings, such as God, angels, demons and satan. All of which our natural eyes cannot normally see. As people have said before just because you cant see them doesn't mean they are not there.

Yes Iam a Christian btw

I am christian aswell, but i dont believe in God.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

I am christian aswell, but i dont believe in God.

Thats not possible.

 

[AphexDreamer]

No, we are not alone.

Simple as that and I think there is little to no debate on the matter.

 

[Funtoss]

i have no idea ... all i know is that MANKIND RULES!

 

[Jaffakeik]

Thats not possible.

Why?i havent been in church since i was about 12years young.and i dont see the reason why should i.because when i see people oon the streets who advertising gods will, its just makes me,sick.because if there where god he didnt needed to be advertised.its just all about money in the end