Who are you??

Question

Your not your body (once you die your body is either burried or donated to medical schools), your not your name (thats just a word)........how do you know that you exist, and if you guys answer this question stating the obvious "the soul" what evidence do you have to make that claim??

Answer 1

Well, according to existentialism, existence comes before essence, so before I can describe myself, I have to establish the fact that I exist.

The whole basis of existentialism is that you exist, in fact it's the only thing that existentialists hold on to as a personal purpose.

Well, in order to address your question of "How do I know if I really exist?", I have to go back to Rene Descartes, because he was the first person to really confront this question. He came up with a quote that I'm sure you've heard before: "I think, therefore I am." This was based on his belief that in thinking, one's existence is proven. Since you think for yourself, you are your own person, a separately existing entity from your environment. In a sense, self-reflection proves oneself.

So, in accordance with existentialism, now that I've shown that I exist, I can address essence. Essence is basically any kind of adjectives that I can describe myself with. I can say that I have an odd character, have interests in philosophical arguments, and any other information I can extract from my conscious through self-reflection, and, while it is still subject to change or influence, it is essentially who I am!

So, in conclusion, I exist because I am self-reflective, and can find out the essence of who I am through self-reflection as well.
-Christian

Answer 2

Your human body is only a shell, it holds your soul......a.k.a. what ever one wants to call it, My evidence is an o.b.e. i had 18 years ago"it wasn't a dream" I will spare you the details" but i left my physcial body .............and i didn't even know i had left it.....but when i got a little weirded out i was pulled back to my physcial body by my silver thread.....we all have one!(for any non believers out there think what ever you want) but i experenced it .....and i was not on any drugs or depressed, where your belly button is ......when you leave your body my means of an o.b.e. your soul stays connected to your body by a cord "silver thread " as some people call it, once your body dies your soul can not inhabit it .....there for the journey begins .........what that is i don't know.....and iám in no rush to find out ....like to hang around for a while longer. (death is only the begining)

Answer 3

"I think therefore I am." A quote that has a higher meaning then one might guess. At least to me, anyway. Who we are is a question that must be answered by the one asking it. Life is based on perception's. How you perceive reality, is your truth. Anyone who tries to take that from you, is foolish. So ask not who you think we are. . . Simply look yourself in the mirror. Stare into your own eyes, into the darkest recesses, and ask who are you. Once you've answered for yourself, none other will matter.

Answer 4

There's no individual self. There's just an immense, complex, endlessly variable flow of energy going on.
Having two eyes and a brain for a while (with all the equipment required i.e.a body..), we can BE that flow. When we're not 2 eyes..or a body, we're not aware of that...or anything, I guess. So, lets rock on!! ;-)))

Answer 5

The evidence is that I know, do you? The mind must be led into the heart where one "experiences the truth". "God dwells within you as you". You have unity with God in unconditional love within your heart. I-AM. SO- HAM. Spirit. A Hueman Being. Light. Unconditional Love. Life. As the colors of the rainbow are contained within sunlight, so to are all things contained within the light of Gods unconditional Love. The proof is in your own your own heart, YOU know I speak the truth.

Answer 6

are you you or are you many thangs?what are you if you is dead? what about alive? do you really mean anythang?Mostly you is water and a few simple ingredients added. I would love to tell you I have a salty attitude,and a sugary sweet disposition.I am hard boiled,but I am medium rare.I aint tough,But I am not fried over easy either. I am spicey hot and sour also,fluffy and hard,and tough as nails yet smooth as black leather!creamy yet sofiticatedly cold and never limpy...ok maybe a little lumpy.LOL!what a question!

Answer 7

I am the personality that has developed as a result of the memories I have gathered. you may argue about the difference between "real" and "apparent" memory, but i believe that evidence for the one continuing presence of me is a result of the continuous string of memories that I have.

Answer 8

Go get smashed and wake up in a Soho doorway and the policeman knows your name.

You don't know. Your conscience lives forever. That feeling you have when you are asleep but you feel awake the whole time is my theory.

Answer 9

My answer sounds lame, sorry, but it is all I could think of.
I know I exist because I work and pay bills.
I guess I am saying, by my existance, others lives are better because of my paying bills to them. Which gives THEM jobs, helps them pay THEIR bills, etc.
Lame. I am having a brain freeze moment.
Hope you get better answers...

Answer 10

Point to your soul.

Existential questions are just mental masturbation. How many angels can fit on the head of a pin. Philosophers will do anything to keep thinking.