Why are the fundamental questions of life (i.e., "where do we come from", and why are we here?") so rarely discussed by the "average" person? how can my mere (non-physical) "will" set in motion a physical process? Where are we? What is nature? What is humanity's place in nature? And what is the relationship of society to the natural world? If we would be travelling time, why can we not see earth in the past?
2006-09-23 19:39:27 · 9 answers · asked by LOL IDK 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
a) Because western culture is overwhelmingly materialistic. As such, it discourages such inquiries as 'a waste of time', since no direct product is derived from them. I personally feel this is wrong, as it subjugates human beings to matter.
b) I would tend to reverse that question. I.e. How does consciousness come up with the concept of matter and why does it feel intrinsically alienated to it? We know the world of our symbols and representations. We can only guess at the nature of matter.
c) I would still say on a planet called earth. Besides, the question where pre-supposes a belief in space.
d) Nature is the totality of what exists. The 'nature' of what exists is ultimately unkowable.
e) Humanity has the unique (as far as we know) privilege of language and reason, of being able to make an assesment of the world. Is this a curse or a blessing? It all depens. It's a curse if the world is ultimately meaningless, in which case we're simply buffoons. It is a blessing if the world has a meaning to be discovered, in which case we are chosen from among creation.
f) Society is the natural place of man. The dichotomy between nature and society is only perceived by man because of his unique perception, the fact that he sees himself as disctinct upon the planet on which he lives. His very ability to distinguish makes the quesiton possible.
Man is also a unique creature in the sense that he can consciously tranform his environment to suit him best. Today, he does this on a vast scale. It seems to underline the idea of man's distinctness from nature. However, I would rather say it demonstrates the uniqueness of man's nature in a more obvious way and, environmentally, an urgent way.
g) Finally, an easy one. My brain hurts. We do travel in time and we do see the signs. It's called archaeology.
2006-09-23 19:54:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The average person is seeking to get ahead by making sure that his DNA is preserved to the next generation and that any commerical success and claims to property have some form of longevity as well as providing himself with comfort so he does not contemplate these issues for to do so would make him understand the foolishness of his pursuits. If he were to contemplate how mental will can alter the physical universe he would be alarmed at the environmental pollution that we have caused the environment which would be another obstacle behind use of his will to preserve his DNA and his material possessions. Where are we? We are on planet Earth, you moron, or at least this hardened ball which we lable as such? What is nature? It is having to go to the bathroom as I write this thing? What is huanity's place in nature and what is the relationship of society to the natural world.Society goes contrary to the natural world as we have no preditors. Thus it is a flagrant violation against nature. I suggest if you are truely concerned about this issue that you go live alone in a forest. Regarding your last question no one has any speculations let alone answers.
2006-09-23 19:53:37 · answer #2 · answered by Steven S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People dont seem to be very aware of things. I meant they can ignore things like governments getting away with murder why owuld they care about tiny things like molecules? All thoughts manifest themselves before our eyes. The more we think it the more it becomes a reality. We are everywhere. Nature is a self perpetuation embodiment of logic. Humanitys place in nature is to Fudge it up. You cannot go against nature for if you do...Go against nature is part of nature too. Thats a love and rockets song. Society is a deviation and a separtion from the magic we refuse to see. But it keeps those that have no clue under control. Else they would all go crazy/ We see old light from eons ago as if it were happening now but we would have to be that far away to see the earth in the past. We are still happening.
2006-09-23 19:51:54 · answer #3 · answered by Sepiatone01 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fundamental questions are usually questions that cannot be answered from inside of the system. The mathematically analogy is Godel's Incompleteness Theorem. That makes them often pointless to discuss. That said, I'll offer a few thoughts.
The question of free will is actually discussed quite a bit (in the religion board here). I think the willingness to act on our beliefs is often misinterpreted as free will. Those of us who are lucky enough to choose how to live our lives think of ourselves as exercising it, but we are frankly lucky to have been brought up with (or genetically have) that propensity.
Humanity's place in nature is an interesting one. The earth has never been a steady state system, with constant change and challenges. I suppose the depressing truth is that humanity's place in nature is threatening to be somewhat like the place in nature of the huge asteroid that nearly wiped out life on earth 160 million years ago.
Society is natural in our species and in other species. From an evolutionary perspective, the combination of intelligence and (only very recently) society has vaulted our ability to survive to a point that is out of control. By surviving so well, we are overpopulating the planet in an unsustainable way. A disaster looms. (And that is depressing to discuss.)
Who says we can time travel?
2006-09-23 19:46:46 · answer #4 · answered by Thomas C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most people do not care less about the deeper questions of life. They may feel that such questions are pointless because they have no effect on their everyday existence. Thought to many people is not an acquired skill - many people feel. Others are incapable of appreciating the questions in any event, yet others use Religion to mask problems as they have done for millenia.
2006-09-24 19:26:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Such questions have been asked by the great rishis of Hinduism 5000 years ago,during the rigveda period and finally told with the available information the answer could not be found out and they could establish a relationship of cause and effect to find out what is God state and man state.
VR
2006-09-23 20:00:07 · answer #6 · answered by sarayu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you study what the Bible has to say about those questions. Even if you don't believe in God, at least you can round our your thinking and consider different perspectives on these questions.
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:8-9
2006-09-23 19:51:01 · answer #7 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
All those answers highly depend on what brand of "ism" one subscribes to. Most of the "ism"s are listed in the wikipedia.
2006-09-23 19:58:47 · answer #8 · answered by : ) 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the sky is blue
2006-09-24 00:18:23 · answer #9 · answered by bprice215 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋