A question about your existence?

Question

Each of us sit in front of our computers answering questions others have posted. Or do we? Isn’t it possible that it is only you yourself that is asking and answering questions? Isn’t it possible that none of this really even exists? How do you know you are not simply a thought experiment by a higher order of being. How do you know you are not a sophisticated algorithm running on some alien computer? Would it not be possible to break down your physical form and thought processes into binary code? How can you prove to others, through this medium, that you truly exist?

Answer 1

Ok Irish trout Bum, here's an answer from Cavan.
In a world where no objective existence is provable and intersubjectivity can be falsified by some evil demon matrix type theory we're up $hits creek without a paddle for proof aren't we.
While doing philosophy some years ago i tinkered around with the idea in an article i wrote. I concluded that existence is in the experiencing of the moments which make it up and that even should it be an illusion it is still real by the experiencing of it on a personal subjective basis. It is very possible your right but to maintain sanity we have to go with the law of Ockham's Razor that "the simplest explanation is most likely the right one" and so go along with the "fact" that this is real.
I stumbled n the idea in a book i read too where a guy is transported to a "magical" world which he of course does not believe and puts down to his sick mind playing tricks, a world of magic and so on. So, he rapes a girl but its not rape because the girl in this world cannot be real. The guilt wracks the guy philosophically for much of the book until he admits that even something "seemingly" not real must also be accepted as real if the experience of it are being "experienced" by him. Even dreams have potency of experience.
So-my point is whether we are a butterfly dreaming we're a person or a person dreaming we're a butterfly the experience of each makes each real.
Great question. Thanks to Liza for mailing it to my attention too.

Answer 2

The universe in which I exist more or less how I appear to exist is much, much, much simpler than the universe in which I don't exist but somehow become fooled into thinking I do, and the latter resembles too much B-grade science fiction to be even remote likely.

Outright proof is difficult, but it's not necessary for reasonable belief in a pretty simple universe.

A universe as a bunch of binary data would be ridiculously hard to code, anyway, and it would require a godlike computer and more memory than I can imagine, even with Moore's Law.

That such a thing being the ultimate answer would happen to conform to recent ideas about science fiction is about as likely as the ultimate answers taking the form of a local god, which was the ancient Near East people's version of science fiction.

I should add that keeping track of subatomic particles or even distances on the small scale would be astronomically (reverse pun intended) difficult for a computer that can only deal in rational numbers.

Answer 3

The following reference material (from Google) requires a very intellectual and philosophical mind to digest and understand, but by all means read and ponder.

Google “Brains in a vat” for the latest reference material.

It basically suggests and refutes that we (you or anyone) are just brains in a vat connected to a super-computer because we are able to ask the question are we just brains in a vat. Unfortunately the theory is flawed because it assumes we are dealing with human brains in a vat, but that may not be the case.

It is possible that everything we think, feel, touch, hear, believe, sense, taste, smell, you name it is in fact virtual, and everything science or religion puts forward is virtual. It is possible that all the troubles in the world are virtual. It is possible that the universe is virtual, and therefore the intelligence in a vat will never know the answers to anything in our world or universe. It is possible that we are some form of intelligence in a vat, and therefore we are virtual and don't exist in the form or manner that we believe we do. It is possible that we may not even be human.

Should the above state (brains in a vat) truly exist then you would be unable to prove to anyone through any medium that you exist.

Answer 4

The Matrix was all ready made into a movie, but thanks for the thought. There is no way to know, and no way to prove any of this BS. Anyone who has done LSD or even seen a movie or a magic show knows full well that perception and reality are not the same. If I really am just typing to myself, I sure do get a lot of pleasure from poking holes in my christian self's pathetic excuses for rational thinking... so I guess I'll just continue.

Answer 5

I am a downloaded fig newton of your free associative sub program.

Now please step away from the PC, and re-install your cognitive breathing drivers,

and eat a nice home made salad, outside in the breeze.

Then, laying on your back in the dappled shade, quietly watch clouds for at least .25 hrs.

You must maintain the powered down status of the computer at least 48 hours

for this re-boot to have a high degree of a possibility of being effective.

Answer 6

Very interesting...In that case are you an aspect of me or vice versa? Are we all aspects of one another? Would your actions affect my destiny? Are we just thoughts which have not yet been realized? Or are we just a dream within a dream within another dream? How do we escape this intricate web? How do we wake up?

Your theory just inspires more questions...I wish I knew the answer but there are so many dimensions to an answer that I would not know where to begin.

Answer 7

No one really can. Why would anyone care to try? As long as God is in control of the binary coding operations and they do not multiply themselves into 666! LOL!

Answer 8

Since we live in a world of illusion and delusion, it's quite possible that we are but a germ on a speck of dust spinning in a shaft of sunlight, or being swept up in some housewife's dustpan.

Answer 9

We are all eternal. A spark from the All Attractive Being. We are part and parcel of God. We are to use our lives correctly and be in a loving servitude additude to the Lord Himself. It is our natural function to be pleasing to the Lord. Thats where REAL happiness is found!

Answer 10

Being aware of the fact that I slap myself and feel a sharp pain, is enough self-evidence for me that I exist and have a real body with sensation.

I claim witness to and truthfulness of the statement above as proof to the real existence for myself.

It is enough self-evidence to any readers who also has a body with feeling and sensation as they could identify with my action and experience by verifying the truthfulness of the statement.

The burden of proof therefore rests on you to indicate otherwise.