How do we, as humans, know that "we are"? how do we know we exist?
2007-01-08 03:46:49 · 21 answers · asked by No Name teeheehee 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
(IN REPLY TO 1ST ANSWER) what if tehy dont exist? then two non existant people are interacting nonexistantly. then there is nothing. what if we are nothing?
2007-01-08 03:51:31 · update #1
or is it? lol
2007-01-08 03:54:00 · update #2
the great quote "i think therefore i am!" shows us that this question can be interpreted on sooo many levels
2007-01-09 03:44:43 · answer #1 · answered by ♥xoxo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the standard answer would be to fall back on Descartes and say "I think therefore I am." The idea that you can ask that questions implies existence. But I have never bought that. To me there is another step. You have to know that thinking implies a thinker and have some knowledge of who or what that thinker is. Otherwise you are just making assumptions. Or you could be tricked by an evil being. Descartes argument out of this one is poor as well.
2007-01-08 05:22:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is, at least, one of the most often asked. As a question, however, I think it is more interesting for the other questions it raises and for the process that is required in trying to arrive at an answer. Ultimately, don't you think that it is essentially unanswerable? In the end, don't we just have to agree that we exist on move on from there? Not that we shouldn't think about it from time to time. But if it turns out that I don't exist, I'm not going to be too unhappy about it. As delusions go, it's a pretty good one.
2007-01-08 04:08:38 · answer #3 · answered by c'mon, cliffy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The greatest question is: "What is behind the next hill?"
Related to your answer is: I'm sure that I exist. Others (humans) exists either real or only in my mind. Whatever the truth is will not change their existence.
2007-01-08 05:29:40 · answer #4 · answered by BataV 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Then you and the entire human race do not exist. How the hell are you capable of eating, drinking, typing on yahoo answers and who in the hell are all these non existing humans able to communicate with you. The next time you are in the bathroom having a crap, look at that non existant crap and think of why your butt just was not existing at the time of this experience. Please ask questions relative to reality. Dead non existant humans have no power to reply.
2007-01-08 05:14:16 · answer #5 · answered by Lesha a Canadian. 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
non existence would imply non interaction. That which does not exist has no interaction with the world. Interaction requires existence. The neurons of the brain interact with each other and the environmental stimuli they detect. Thus the old axiom:
"I think, therefore I am."
2007-01-08 04:32:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well in relationship to eternity its a very valid question . if we measured in those terms it would be like comparing an eyedropper of water to the atlantic ocean . simply a flash and we are gone . the truth is that we will not truly begin to exist until we enter eternity . Here on earth we exist until the end of our lives .... true enough . But when we enter eternity , we will exist forever . in answer to your question more specifically ... yes , we do exist...yes we are humans...lol
2007-01-08 04:07:54 · answer #7 · answered by trifecta70 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if we didn't exist why would we think we do and if we think then we must exist at the very least mentally exist its harder to explain physical existence though for all we know we could have existed but then died and our mental existence just is too stubborn to admit it so i guess your half right good question but i wouldn't say best question of all time cause ur not even sure you exist so how could your question be the best question of all time if its not even real??? hmm
2007-01-08 04:01:02 · answer #8 · answered by marion r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you asked someone this question too many times you'd drive them mad. but i will reassure myself that we are existent. our actions affect others (uh oh, what if they dont exist). if we blow up our planet it would affect the universe (then we wouldnt exist anyway). i think that i am in two minds about this question (just to explain the self-contradicting). i conclude: we exist, if we are non-existent, then we would fall under the definition of a word that hasnt been invented yet (that doesnt exist hah!). because when the word "exist" came into existence, we fell under the definition of exist, because we're here, together.
2007-01-08 04:12:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Logically, you can only prove to yourself the existence of your thinking conscience. Everything else outside of that may be your imagination. All proofs may simply be more imaginings.
2007-01-08 03:55:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
How do you know that you exist?
Can you think?
Can you see?
Can you hear?
Can you dream?
Can you breathe?
Are you aware of consciousness?
Answer yes to any of these questions and you KNOW that you exist.
2007-01-08 11:15:26 · answer #11 · answered by Q 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋