Brain in a vat (BIV) scenario: Could it be I live in a Matrix-like world, and my brain sits in a vat of juice, and there's some mad scientist poking at different areas of my brain?
I think there is a God, BUT if I ever wake up, all that there is, is just a smiling mad scientist/chemicals and neurons?
Is this all an illusion? How do I figure out if this idea of mine of an illusory world is true or false? (You can argue there are no true ideas in an illusory world, but I beg to differ: the mad scientist can inject that true idea in me.)
My answer: It seems I can never know whether brain-in-a-vat existence is true until if I wake up one day and realize that I was, indeed, living a BIV existence.
Thus, how do I live life, in this stage of not knowing?
Everything I thought true I don't know anymore. I'm caught between a life as I've always known it (including my belief in the Christian God) and the persistent, gnawing doubt of global skepticism that I can't get rid of.
2007-02-09 19:43:10 · 6 answers · asked by simplyxme 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
It sounds like you've probably already read it, but one of the founding works of modern philosophy is Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy, written in 1641, and he asks exactly that question. He wanted to know how to prove that what he THOUGHT was real and outside of his mind, really WAS real and DID exist outside of his mind.
He resolved the question to his own satisfaction (but by no means to everyone's satisfaction) by attempting to prove an infinitely benevolent God. The debate rages on today. I highly recommend reading the Meditations (link below to free online English version). They're fairly short for a philosophical book, and a rivetting read.
But my question is this: what if part of God's infinite benevolence includes rendering his existence impossible to prove in this life? Let me explain. Some posit that God put us on Earth for a reason, and some posit that that reason is to develop faith, and learn to act by our own experience, to prepare for further adventures after death. If we knew with certainty of God's existence and of his goodness, we would follow his dictates and commandments and suggestions without question, KNOWING logically that they were for our benefit.
But if acting for ourselves by the development of uncertain faith, (as opposed to by certain knowledge and cold logic) is part of the purpose of Earth life, then certain knowledge of his existence -- in this life -- would be counterproductive to that plan. We would be stripped of the opportunity to learn by our own experience, from our own mistakes and triumphs.
This is not to say that there can be no evidence of his existence, only that such evidence would only be evidence -- to be interpreted, rightly or wrongly, always leaving room for doubt -- and not conclusive proof.
2007-02-09 20:32:33 · answer #1 · answered by Matt G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Punch yerself in the nose and then try and say that was an illusion.
Count yer blessings.
Think about all the miracles that happen everyday.
Besides you'll know the truth when you die. =)
P.S. You must be bored cuz that thinking is TOO deep. I mean seriously do you honestly think we know the answer to your questions? People have been asking questions like that almost since religion was discovered!
JUST LIVE YER LIFE AND KNOW THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS.
Okay?
=)
2007-02-09 21:56:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ya...quite a bit. And, what are you smoking, wanna share? I'd say quite thinking so much, but my mind works just about same as yours; drives me crazy sometimes. Sometimes I wonder if I'm in a "Truman" type movie, being watched and analyzed. mostly, I think I'm just paranoid, but who the **** knows, maybe we are all just a bunch of guinny pigs being analyzed by aliens or some crazy scientist. Who really knows what is real and what isn't. As far as God is concerned, I think organized religion is just a man made creation to try to keep us in-line, and controllable, I personally don't buy into it.
2007-02-09 20:02:29 · answer #3 · answered by lstntfnd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The New World Order aka One World Government is the World's name for what the Bible refers to as the Mark Of The Beast System.
2016-05-24 21:33:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Erm... I guess that u can actually read more of the Bible,esp. Acts 17:22-28 and Jeremiah 29:11-13 and confirm ur doubts...u can ask ur pastor to help u get faith and u can read this faith chapter Hebrew 11:1-40...and PRAY to the Lord to let u have faith in him but DO NOT TRY TO TEST HIM!Try to pray for faith daily and u will slowly regain ur faith, juz like the Jews who did not believe in Jesus slowly believed in him after time by worshiping God.God will surely help u.Hope that u can regain ur faith in Jesus and may God bless u.
2007-02-09 19:50:16 · answer #5 · answered by Blank 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Just ask God...actually i have those same questions everyday... so i take out my bible and read about how he created us... that really helps me...and we can ask him in heaven...=)
2007-02-09 19:54:21 · answer #6 · answered by angel 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋