The philosophical thoughts thread!

crazyaga · 10-22-2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

So what? Living forever having what feels like constant new and exciting experiences sounds a lot better than death to me.

As I said before, the memory thing indeed ruined my idea.
Though I think our memory is big enough to get us bored from the things we remembered we did. Try to imagine it.

**Frownland** · 10-22-2012, 04:33 PM

It'd be nice to live for a long time, but not forever. I'm sure that the not being able to masturbate part of the contract would suck, but hey, I've done that to infinity already, so I'd already be bored of it

.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-22-2012, 04:47 PM

Living forever would actually be pretty damn exciting. You'd get to see civilizations come and go, participate in events that shape history, meet and have relationships with all kinds of influential, wonderful, unique people. There might be long stretches of floating around in space after the Earth dies, but I'm sure you could find a way to retreat into your mind or something, or become inactive until something awakens you.

I've mentioned before, and although some have disagreed with me (we had an interesting discussion in another thread), true infinity when applied to anything temporal or "physical" in the sense that we interact with it as it exists from our perspective of time/space implies that eventually, all outcomes, however unlikely, should take place. If existence itself (not necessarily the universe, but perhaps a multitude of universes in succession of some kind of time-like existential function existing independently from space itself, or even a multiverse in which all possible outcomes exist simultaneously) is infinite, which seeing as we're here I find it hard to wrap my head around the proposition that it isn't (the classic "what gave rise to X"? quandary of classical times), being immortal as a human who can presumably survive the harsh conditions of outer space and the unknown conditions which exist(?)/will exist/have existed outside of our particular universe (if indeed the concept of anything "outside" or independent of all we know is valid) would be FUCKING AWESOME, but the experience of eternity would likely change you so much that you'd hardly resemble your current self, with all of your earthly desires, hobbies, relationships, and experiences.

If a person like that ever came down to Earth to hang out for a bit, they'd be great to have a cup of coffee with. He may even know a "you" from another universe 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 universes ago. Only that "you" married the girl of "your" dreams and had 23 kids, and as is customary on his planet named each one of them after Spongebob characters.

EDIT: There was a good point made about not having an infinite capacity for memory. I guess I just assumed if you can live forever you're some kind of super human, but maybe not.

~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ · 10-22-2012, 09:38 PM

Doesn't it seem like you might eventually overcome insanity, though? Or at least phase in and out as time passes.

CanwllCorfe · 10-22-2012, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Doesn't it seem like you might eventually overcome insanity, though? Or at least phase in and out as time passes.

I don't think so. If my issue is not being able to escape life no matter how badly I wanted to, methinks it'd only get worse as time goes on.

Rjinn · 10-23-2012, 05:02 AM

I'm with the notion about not knowing what death really is. Then there is the subject of existentialism where knowledge can only go so far as knowing the existence of life. A big reason where made up stories of hell and heaven, reincarnation, nirvana and the even the notion of God knows all because beyond here is really lost to us, so all of them can be credible in a way.

"Nothing" doesn't exist, because "nothing" can't be analysed.

There is no truth, everything is permitted.

Rjinn · 10-31-2012, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wisdom

No, I think it would suck. Too frustrating, due to seeing too many bad things, including negative human behaviors repeated over and over and humanity hardly improving morally.

So I'm guessing you're not enjoying your life at the moment either?

Mr. Charlie · 11-07-2013, 10:41 AM

Living forever would be peculiar if nothing else. In 5 billion years or so the Sun is set to balloon, killing the Earth, later the Andromeda galaxy is predicted to collide with the Milky Way, and so an immortal could well spend the rest of time floating through space. That could be quite interesting, but it's also been predicted that all matter in the universe will break down and be converted into energy and that eventually all light will die too leaving nothing but a cold and dead universe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyaga

I had this thought about how death is like:
You were at a state of non-existing once - before you were being born.
So, I think the state after your existance will be just the same as how you were before you existed - nothingness.

Could well be. Who knows. Reminds me of the Buddhist koans: 'what was your original face before your mother and father were born?' and 'where does the master of my being go when I die?' Ponder. Ponder.

p-bo · 11-09-2013, 11:29 AM

I believe there are universal morals/beliefs that most people share, regardless of culture, religion, or upbringing. Just normal human decencies that most people share. Based of these, and your opinions, he's my question.

You have two people. One with the urge to commit a "wrong", yet refrains from such an action. The other has no such urge and therefore commits no transgression.

Example - Two priests. One is attracted to young men. One is not. Neither ever engages in such activity. The priest who has no interests/desires has an easier road. The priest with the desires uses every bit of his willpower to refrain. Who's better in you eyes/ God's eyes/ the eyes of the common good?

If this example is distasteful to you, fill in the blanks. It shouldn't make much difference what situation you use.

Mr. Charlie · 11-09-2013, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by p-bo

I believe there are universal morals/beliefs that most people share, regardless of culture, religion, or upbringing. Just normal human decencies that most people share. Based of these, and your opinions, he's my question.

You have two people. One with the urge to commit a "wrong", yet refrains from such an action. The other has no such urge and therefore commits no transgression.

Example - Two priests. One is attracted to young men. One is not. Neither ever engages in such activity. The priest who has no interests/desires has an easier road. The priest with the desires uses every bit of his willpower to refrain. Who's better in you eyes/ God's eyes/ the eyes of the common good?

If this example is distasteful to you, fill in the blanks. It shouldn't make much difference what situation you use.

Neither is better in my eyes. In God's eyes and the common good's? I couldn't possibly say.

10-22-2012, 04:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	It'd be nice to live for a long time, but not forever. I'm sure that the not being able to masturbate part of the contract would suck, but hey, I've done that to infinity already, so I'd already be bored of it . __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

10-23-2012, 05:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rjinn The Aerosol in your Soul Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 1,546	I'm with the notion about not knowing what death really is. Then there is the subject of existentialism where knowledge can only go so far as knowing the existence of life. A big reason where made up stories of hell and heaven, reincarnation, nirvana and the even the notion of God knows all because beyond here is really lost to us, so all of them can be credible in a way. "Nothing" doesn't exist, because "nothing" can't be analysed. There is no truth, everything is permitted. __________________ last.fm

11-09-2013, 11:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
p-bo Groupie Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 22	I believe there are universal morals/beliefs that most people share, regardless of culture, religion, or upbringing. Just normal human decencies that most people share. Based of these, and your opinions, he's my question. You have two people. One with the urge to commit a "wrong", yet refrains from such an action. The other has no such urge and therefore commits no transgression. Example - Two priests. One is attracted to young men. One is not. Neither ever engages in such activity. The priest who has no interests/desires has an easier road. The priest with the desires uses every bit of his willpower to refrain. Who's better in you eyes/ God's eyes/ the eyes of the common good? If this example is distasteful to you, fill in the blanks. It shouldn't make much difference what situation you use. __________________ “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action”

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10-22-2012, 04:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	Living forever would actually be pretty damn exciting. You'd get to see civilizations come and go, participate in events that shape history, meet and have relationships with all kinds of influential, wonderful, unique people. There might be long stretches of floating around in space after the Earth dies, but I'm sure you could find a way to retreat into your mind or something, or become inactive until something awakens you. I've mentioned before, and although some have disagreed with me (we had an interesting discussion in another thread), true infinity when applied to anything temporal or "physical" in the sense that we interact with it as it exists from our perspective of time/space implies that eventually, all outcomes, however unlikely, should take place. If existence itself (not necessarily the universe, but perhaps a multitude of universes in succession of some kind of time-like existential function existing independently from space itself, or even a multiverse in which all possible outcomes exist simultaneously) is infinite, which seeing as we're here I find it hard to wrap my head around the proposition that it isn't (the classic "what gave rise to X"? quandary of classical times), being immortal as a human who can presumably survive the harsh conditions of outer space and the unknown conditions which exist(?)/will exist/have existed outside of our particular universe (if indeed the concept of anything "outside" or independent of all we know is valid) would be FUCKING AWESOME, but the experience of eternity would likely change you so much that you'd hardly resemble your current self, with all of your earthly desires, hobbies, relationships, and experiences. If a person like that ever came down to Earth to hang out for a bit, they'd be great to have a cup of coffee with. He may even know a "you" from another universe 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 universes ago. Only that "you" married the girl of "your" dreams and had 23 kids, and as is customary on his planet named each one of them after Spongebob characters. EDIT: There was a good point made about not having an infinite capacity for memory. I guess I just assumed if you can live forever you're some kind of super human, but maybe not.

10-22-2012, 09:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~someonecompletelyrandom~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,538	Doesn't it seem like you might eventually overcome insanity, though? Or at least phase in and out as time passes.