Guybrush

Come on guys, it is a valid philosophical question even if most of us feel it's a silly one. Be nice.

This puzzled me a bit. What do you mean? Could you elaborate on this statement?

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Something Completely Different

VeggieLover

When i think about how little humans have actually managed to "prove" in comparison to how much is acutally (or potentially) out there, it is possible to feel very very small and insignificant both as an individual and as a species. On the other hand, every once in a while a human comes along that has managed to tap into the vast bank of knowledge (or energy or capability, whatever you want to call it) and completely baffels everyones expectations and challenges everything we "know" about the human mind. Yet even these individuals are only using some ridiculously small portion of the brain. When we think of all that brain power thats going unused, we realize the full potential of humanity and can feel very very big.

that help?

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"Not remotely! Because iocaine comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And Australia is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are used to having people not trust them as you are not trusted by me, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you."

Freebase Dali

Let's first determine the definition of the word "we"...
Without going into detail, and if you're speaking in a general sense, WE can assume you mean everyone INCLUDING yourself. (That is, after all, the standard usage of the term.)

And if you refer to Solipsism that states everything outside the individual mind is unjustified, then to me, you're unjustified, and vice-versa. SO... Naturally, with everyone having that perspective, no one would exist.
But fortunately, not everyone has that perspective except a relatively few um... "people" who have nothing to do with their time and are logically challenged.

So I guess, by your argument, that your point is moot. Especially since I think it is and you don't exist, according to Solipsism.

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Dr.Seussicide

I think Carneades, from the branch of academic skepticism said it best:

"Nothing can be known, not even this."

A bit of a dim, dogmatic proposition, but I find it to be nonetheless refreshing.

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Freebase Dali

Let's see your evidence that we only use a ridiculously small percentage of our brain... and I'm NOT talking about the percentage we use SIMULTANEOUSLY.
I'm scared that you're about to make the 10 percent mistake. Please don't.

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The Unfan

Well, he does only use 10% of his brain.

VeggieLover

There is a reason I didn't offer any specific percentages as to how much of our brain we actually use. For one thing, I don't think the experts know for sure, and I'm certainly not going to pretend I know. I am however, under the impression, that humans have not even begun to tap their cognitive potential.

As for my point being moot, well. I can exist with out a we. But we cannot exist with out me. Therefore, while we does in fact include me, it does not neccesarily mean that i dont exist if i say we dont exist.

I am not solipsist (i guess thats what you'd call it), and so I am not going to try and convince you that solipsism is the "right" way to think about life. I just find it quite entertaining to ponder such theories. While you may see things a certian way, there is really no way to prove that it is reality. There is a certian amount of faith required to traverse the world of Quantum physics at all. Even if I believe that I exist, does that hold any merit if no one else thinks I exist? Its very rough territory, and not everyone likes to think of existance in such abstract ways. Assuming your close minded approach ("don't comment if you don't know what you're talking about" without any evididence that i dont, in fact, know what im talking about) i would guess that you are one of those people who prefer to dwell in the realm of "concrete fact." If that is case, you may wish to follow your own advice.

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"Not remotely! Because iocaine comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And Australia is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are used to having people not trust them as you are not trusted by me, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you."

boo boo

Yeah the whole "we only use a small portion of our brain" thing is just a myth, I guess it was created to promote pseudoscience bullsh*t, you know, like if you managed to use 100% of your brain you can use telekinesis, telepathy and sh*t like that.

*Waits for Darkest Hour to call me closedminded.*

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It's only knock n' knowall, but I like it

http://www.last.fm/user/kingboobs

The Unfan

I'm not going to pretend either. We know we use roughly 100% of our brain.

VeggieLover

you find me the qualified refrences and I'll change my outlook on life.

Either way, humans are capable of a lot more than we generally achieve. And if not, well, there's a nice little piece of humble pie for the entire race.

EDIT: Ok, i found myself the qualified refrences. Here is a point when i shouldn't be arguing something i dont know much about (Freebase_Dali...) If we do in fact use 100% of our brains (which we do according to Scientific American) then that just makes our untapped potential all the more confusing. the existence of telekenisis, savants, etc. suggests to me (in my uneducated state) that a lot more is possible than generally accepted by modern science. It's just speculation, but maybe we don't understand (and may never understand) the entire spectrum of "things" that combine to provide us with consiousness.

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"Not remotely! Because iocaine comes from Australia, as everyone knows. And Australia is entirely peopled with criminals. And criminals are used to having people not trust them as you are not trusted by me, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you."