It is irrational to entertain a question that requires a baseless premise. That there is existence cannot be denied. That it must have some nature is based on the fact everything that exists must have some nature, i.e. some attributes, qualities, and properties that identify what it is and what its nature is. That is the whole objective of science. The question, "what exists and what is its nature," is a legitimate question.Alexis Jacobi wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:04 pm 1a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation. b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition.
__________________________________RCSaunders wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 4:20 pm Only the superstitious and irrational ponder that false premise.
The opposite of superstitious is factual, rational, scientific, etc., but it certainly cannot be fairly said that only those who are superstitious and *irrational* ponder a) the reasons why all this exists, and b) why we exist in it are necessarily irrational or superstitious.
So to ask questions about 'the reason' (why) and about the end of all things, are obviously not at all irrational in themselves. It can be highly rational to ask. However, it is true that there are many superstitious people and superstitious answers.
But when you think about it any answer given must be seen as flawed. How can anyone know? Who therefore can give a definitive answer? All our answers are based on suppositions.
The question, "why does it exist," makes an assumption for which there is no basis whatsoever. It assumes something must lie behind existence, something which is its, "cause," or, "reason for existing," but there is absolutely not evidence for any such thing. To believe there is anything for which there is no evidence is irrational superstition.
Existence is its own explanation. It exists and is what it is, and is not contingent on anything else. To look for anything beyond existence is to look for what only exists in some people's superstitious minds. Facts are only that for which there is evidence or is discovered to be true from that evidence.
To assume anything without evidence is always wrong. Such assumptions only belong in mysticism and fantasy fiction.Alexis Jacobi wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:04 pmYet we must assume that when we say human consciousness we mean all consciousness that has ever existed, and can ever exist, in our world, in all previous manifestations of *worlds*, in the infinite past and in the infinite future.RCSaunders wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 4:20 pm All purpose and meaning begins and is derived from human consciousness. Except for human chosen objectives and goals there are no purposes or meaning. "The purpose of the universe," is mystic nonsense.
Human consciousness only exists in living individual human beings. Sans living individual human beings there is no consciousness.
That is the same superstitious assumption as a belief that existence requires some cause. Its called intrincism. Nothing is just good, bad, right or wrong if it is not good, bad, right, or wrong for something to someone. I think you do not understand what values are.Alexis Jacobi wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:04 pm 'Meaning" and *value" (in my view) must exist as necessities. That is, they exist latently in the unmanifest. Along with everything else!
I'm not inclined to fairness. I'm only interest in truth and reason. If that's not, "fair," fairness is evil.Alexis Jacobi wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:04 pmBut moreover so is the declarative stance and assertion in the one who made this bold statement. It might not be a mystical statement (derived from a mystical-intuited perception) but it is nonsensical if one were inclined to fairness.
I have no idea what your motives are, but if you are telling the truth, your views are superstition, have no basis in fact, and are a mistundersanding of what, "cause," is. Nothing makes you have those views. There is no, "pressure." For whatever reasons, it is what you choose to think and believe. Only you can say why. I'm not blaming you for anything. I'm sorry you are so mistaken.Alexis Jacobi wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 5:04 pmMy assertions are made under pressure from ignorance, fear, trust in semi-rational gasp, as well as false conceptions about causation.1a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation. b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition.