What is "Not existing"?

Question

If it doesnt exist so what is it. Nothing.? Nothing? It has to be something.what is it?

If you no longer exist what are you then?

Answer 1

I make a distinction between Being and existing. By this way of thinking, existence is one mode of Being, but nothingness is also a mode of Being. "Nothingness" in this case is "no-thing-ness", which is not the same as nihilistic absolute nothingness. The difference has to do with determinacy and indeterminacy. To exist is to be determinate (in other words, to have properties that are subject to the laws of logic, so that there is "fact of the matter" as to whether a particular properties applies). Nothingness is "pure potential" and is indeterminate. The laws of logic do not apply because there is noting determinate for logical laws to apply to. Nothingness is the "pregnant Void" of Eastern philosophical traditions such as Buddhism and Daoism. To be "empty" is to be empty of determinate properties or objective thing-ness.

Actually, I favor process philosophy, so I do not believe in static beings or substances. Thus, as I see it, there are no truly existing "things" at all in a substantial sense. There are only processes. So on my Being/existence distinction, existence is a mode of Being in which Being is turning-from indeterminacy to determinacy. This "turning" is a process that does not take place in spacetime, but is the creating-of spacetime – not in the sense of a "big bang" beginning of spacetime, but rather an on-going creative process that is intrinsic within every moment of determinate Being. Here I am borrowing from the Daoist/Buddhist idea that every moment is unique and unrepeatable, and also that every moment is interdependent with every other moment. This mutual interdependence of all "things" (all processes of turning-toward determinacy) is what Buddhists mean by "emptiness" and fully realizing this interdependent nature of things (the truth that there are no independent substantial things) is what is meant by "enlightenment". Once you realize that there is no substance, there is no longer anything to "cling to" then you are "free from attachments" and enter Nirvana (which is living in the realization of the emptiness of all things). You are then a Buddha/enlightened being.

If you are still fretting about what the nihilistic notion of absolute nothingness could be, the short answer is this: it is a delusion. It is just a confused concept – like trying to imagine a "square circle". The complement of Being in determine mode (existence) is Being in indeterminate mode (Nothingness/"pure potential"). Determinate processes can emerge from Nothingness because Nothingness is pure potential. The confused concept of "absolute nothingness" has no actual meaning at all, except insofar as it (as a concept) serves as an example of how minds suffering under the illusion of substance-being can completely confuse themselves. (As Wittgenstein said, we are easily "bewitched" by language.)

Sorry if this all seems really confusing. If it were easy to explain and easy to understand, sages wouldn't have to study and meditate for years in order to become enlightened.

Answer 2

Nothing does not exist, neither does darkness and many other such descriptions. They are the lack of something specific, like light for example. Light exists because it is energy and energy can be broken down to photons or particles or waves of energy. Darkness on the other hand is simply the absence of light. That is a clue to help you figure out what exists. If you more interested there is a whole lot of discoveries being made nowadays re. quantum physics.

Answer 3

"Not Existing" is unable to be identified.

It can be identified therefore it exist.

If it doesn't exist then it can not be it because it must be identifiable.

Nothing is nothing and can be identified by the fact that nothing else is not nothing, therefore nothing exists.

Something exists if something is identifiable but beig identifiable something can not be non existent.

Are you geting the picture now or do we have to go into the whole chaos theory, fractal theory nonsense that explains that was does not exist is in the realm of chaos which lacking order lacks identity as well.

Enjoy.

Answer 4

Existence is a funny thing itself and so is nothingness. Nothingness exists but everything in it does not. The word nothing is an expression used to describe what we believe is not in existence anymore... so for the purpose of keeping our sanity can we say something does not stop existing but becomes non-apparent?

Answer 5

When I was young I though I knew everything When I was older, I realized I knew nothing..

Not existing is not living, so when you die you are nothing physically, but your nothing is you soul..

I am sure I confused you as much as your question confused me. But at least I put my brain cells to work.

Answer 6

Emptiness, not nothingness, there is a difference. If you are really interested, read the book Meditation on Emptiness, by Jeffry Hopkins (it demonstrates logical empirical proof of emptiness).

Answer 7

The Bible have a passage that states "when you die, you no longer exist." This have to be true if you just sit down and think about it.

Answer 8

It exists as a theory but not as a reality.

Answer 9

Are we existing?

Who says what is existing and what is not.

For all you know you can be a butterfly dreaming of being a human.

Answer 10

existance is in the eyes of the exister.