We cannot be certain about the future - obviously we cannot know what will happen in five years time, or five weeks, or five hours, with any certainty; but how far ahead can we safely presume certainty? Five minutes? Probably not. Five seconds? How far does our confidence extend? Of course, if you believe in God, Predestination or an Afterlife, it probably doesn't matter. But if you are reading a novel, watching a film or a football match, it'd be a comfort to know you might still be around at the end. Otherwise you might opt for something different, if you knew that your end was truly nigh. I would - but I'm not saying what!
2006-12-24 05:28:39 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Using the paradigm of complexity theory, in mathematics/physics, there is a sort of sphere of possibility, within which pretty much ANYTHING could happen next, to any given person, or in any given situation.
Meaning: if you live in Leeds and never leave, and never gamble, winning the jackpot in a casino in Las Vegas falls OUTSIDE your sphere of possibility.
Being hit by a bus, writing the Great British Novel, contracting pneumonia, and having kids who do leave Leeds, are examples of things that fall INSIDE your sphere of possibility. (Unless you have no children, have NO family or personal history of respiratory illness, are illiterate, or are house-bound).
2006-12-24 09:11:52 · answer #1 · answered by protectrikz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there. Your comment that we cannot be certain very far ahead is a good one and most modern philosophers agree with that, but it
doesn't explain inheritance laws! As an individual, a traumatic event can end your tenure on earth any second, so your individual existence is difficult to rely on. Essentially, you are gambling - make a date for next week, the odds are that you will survive to go on it. Nut one day, those odds will turn against you and you will lose. More solid events - the orbit of the planet, the rise of the tides - have such heavy odds in their favour that it is safe to assume they will roll on pretty much forever (although they will one day stop too).
So on a personal level, squeeze the joy you can when you can.
On a larger scale, don't worry about it.
Cheers, Steve.
2006-12-24 08:34:12 · answer #2 · answered by Steve J 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i believe that we went along way from center???????
the dark side of government has not revealed our true location??
if the Russians aren't sturing up communism at home
would and have they brought it here to us on the influx of mexicans????????????
where are and is our rights, see we have only our selves, that is how we know were screwed and i have sat in the back seat and watched how you have to do it for years and u do it well, but it has no real application in long term, California says it can't put any more cars on the road till it builds more roads. infrastructure screams there are 155,000 obsolete bridges in America and are causing six million lost hours a year in traffic congestion's. also look hard at the way communism is a lost art but is surviving well here as suppression, and will make money for the corporations and border needs, i have high expectations, but know in my heart that i too would take the money and run, this is not a wall street collapse it is big brother and corporate America back-peddling hard. u have two years before the next election to either kick back and wait or find the piece of real estate u always wanted cause in a few short years it will be owned and out of reach
2006-12-24 05:59:11 · answer #3 · answered by bev 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We can not presume certainty as we've seen on many occasions where someone dies watching TV or doing the marathon etc. hence no guarantee but our confidence can extend to the 'NOW' moment state of mind 'Enjoy every moment you've got' Being aware of your thoughts,mind and respond to your surroundings( negative or positive) and controlling them by meditation to filter what is time wasting thoughts and concentrating on the positive one for that "moment"
2006-12-24 13:25:42 · answer #4 · answered by lulu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is best to live your life as best you can in your early years as you may only be preparing for the end...the saying life begins at 40 is a good benchmark to start ENJOYING your LIFE to the FULL, speak your mind, put into action ideas you would otherwise dismiss as a waste of time....after 40 it is all downhill, leave your mark but make it sound..
2006-12-24 05:42:19 · answer #5 · answered by Bluefurball 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what exactly is your question, dear?
You or I might die in a horrific car accident or not. One of us might die peacelfully in our sleep. There is no possible way of knowing. Not even a fortune teller can fully tell you because their "vision" is limited. Tarrot cards CANNOT tell you either because they operate on half truths and whole lies. If you do believe in God, I most certainly do, then be safe in the knowledge that death is not the end and that true life, eternal life, actually begins after death. I hope you discover this truth for yourself because once you have all fear is removed and life is not that scary anymore. Be blessed
Merry Christmas friend
2006-12-24 06:17:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You CAN NOT be certain anyway.But I think you don't have to think about the things you CAN NOT do.think about what you can do: YOU CAN THINK AND CHOOSE. So think about the things that are said about the future. Some believe in God (like me) and say you will be there again after your death and others say else. For sure you can't be 100% sure about any of them.But you CAN choose between them and see which of them looks more right to you.
Anyways we all are to die one day.and the day Can be tomorrow.So I think if we live like we are to die tomorrow,everything will be great. Cause if we really die tomorrow,We have lived great today.and if we don't,we haven't lost anything.
Hope it Helped:)
2006-12-24 06:43:29 · answer #7 · answered by Master Gwurd 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WE can't predict with certainty. Then what do we need God for, but there is an universal truth that you do become what you think. If you think of bad thing happening to you, they generally do. If you think of good things happen to you, usually that is what you will get. So think of good things and weed out the bad. I predict that you will have health, wealth and joy in your life --just start thinking about it.
2006-12-24 05:33:02 · answer #8 · answered by Sports Maven 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Change
If change meant little to this world,
though Isaac Newton wrote of speed,
how come a pimple on your nose
makes change so urgently a need?
2006-12-24 05:58:56 · answer #9 · answered by Alan Turing 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you take care of yourself, you should have enough time to many of the things that you need to do in order to have had a satid=sfying life.
2006-12-25 03:22:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋