is it possible to think of something which could not exist?

Question

given the size of the universe and the size of a human brain and/or the collective human brains, how is it possible that one could image something that could not exist? please give examples and reasons.

Answer 1

This is a curious philosophical question. Obviously, if I thought of anything, then it already exists as a thought of mine! Even if I were to think of something that cannot exist, it exists nonetheless because now it's a thought that I'm thinking about.

If you mean to ask if we can imagine something that cannot physically exist, yes, there are many examples, such as a 16-sided regular polyhedron, formed of 16 faces which are regular polygons. It's easy to show that it's a mathematical impossibility. When trying to imagine such a thing, we're not actually imagining the 16-sided object in question, we only THINK that maybe we do, having only just a hazy notion of something that's physically unrealizable.

If we allow ourselves logical contradictions, positing an universe where logic is not observed, then anything can exist and not exist at the same time, and thus make the question meaningless, and therefore unanswerable.

Answer 2

When you ask this question do you mean could not ever exist or could not exist now?

Had you asked this question in the 1600s someone might have answered a machine that will permit mankind to fly. At that time, flying was unthinkable.

If you want examples of things that could not exist now then Yes. It is easy to think of something that could not exist.

Look at the imaginative things in the Star Wars movies. I'm thinking of a skate board that hovers a few inches off the ground and takes the rider over land. It couldn't work, but some one thought of it.

Look at the 'tractor beam' in Star Trek. Couldn't exist, but someone thought it up.

The skate board could exist in the future when a powerful anti magnet would keep the rider away from the earth so there was no friction. Yet, the skate boarder could push himself in the direction he wanted to travel.

Not gonna happen? Well, somebody thought of it.

Answer 3

Is this homework? C'mon, it's an easy answer- No. It is not possible to think of something that could exist because we can't no what is and is not possible. As far as earthly limitations go, we are harnessing the power of genetic mutation, therefore we, in theory, can create that which does not exist (although I believe the first human with wings and the ability to fly is a long way away).

Answer 4

The idea that an idea being thought lends actual existence to the idea making it exist in reality is pretty old. Wittgenstein solved this by pointing out the limitations of language which result in people being confused by different shades of meaning (usage) of words, such as "exist" and "idea."

First, what people mean by an "idea" existing (or having an idea), and something "existing" in reality don't always have the same usage. Even if your idea corresponds to something in reality, your idea's "existence" is not the same kind of thing meant by the real thing's "existence." Imagine the moon. Is the real moon the same as your thought? Nope. Your head would explode if the moon really existed inside it. (not with dark forebodings a la Pink Floyd but really). No idea really "exists" in reality; rather, some elements of it MAY CORRESPOND to aspects of something that exists in the real world. But not every idea must correspond with enough reality for people to say that it really "exists."


Here's an easy example: a thought inconsistent with the past.

I'm thinking right now of Stalin's heir, Ivan Stalin, who last year came to power in Russia and forcibly reunited all the republics of the Soviet Union. I'm imagining great battles and newspaper headlines. I thought it. Can it exist?

You may say, but wait, that thought was obviously false. But saying it isn't true essentially is the same as saying it doesn't correspond with real events, isn't it? It doesn't correspond with reality, so people say it doesn't exist. Remember, language usage is key here...

As far as the universe is concerned, some would claim that given infinite time and space, or parallel universes, an identical earth history with a Stalin heir just like my thought would have to happen somewhere, sometime. But not here, not one year ago till now, not in this universe. And those qualities were all part of my thought. As the word "exist" is used in the English language, it applies to no heir of Stalin who ever supposedly came to power in the year 2006 on Earth. In fact, the idea is so far-fetched that most English speakers would say it "doesn't exist." "Can't exist" is an uncommon phrase, but most would agree with another that has, functionally, the same usage: "It can't be." (QED)

Answer 5

Depending on the interpretation of your question, there are plenty of ideas that have been imagined but are impossible. A perfect example would be the countless perpetual motion machines devised over the years...

Answer 6

All of those are imaginable and quantifiable, albeit way too large to truly understand.

The easiest thing you can think of which could not exist is 0, it is the omission of everything, so it cannot exist as an actual thing.

Answer 7

Where do you think religions came from?
People think of something, then look for evidence of its existence. Or, people don't understand something, and invent a volcano god, or rain god etc, where none existed before.

Answer 8

Yes. http://www.elfwood.com Read about a dozen stories and see if people can think of the impossible.

Answer 9

I just thought of a tap-dancing rhino.

It doesn't exist.

Piece of cake.

Answer 10

science fiction writers have come up with too many to list here. they have excellent imaginations.