how do I know that I'm not dead?

Answer 1

Pinch yourself.

Answer 2

Living things have qualities that are different from everything else. Living things have an internal order called homeostasis which goes against the laws of the universe in which everything decays or forgoes "entropy". We are a safe harbor for order in a universe of randomness. There are also many biological definitions for life that allow us to contrast our differences with other 'dead' such as the ability to reproduce, to respond to our environment, to require energy and produce waste through respiration and digestion. These qualities are for now a foundation of life as we know it; if you do not fit the criteria then you are dead. As is our definition of life and death is so rudimentary at this point of our existence that its really anyones guess what the essential qualities of life and death truly are. It is all a question from man, and the answer will inevitably contain man-made components that do not necessarily reflect the nature of our universe.

Answer 3

Excellent question that parallels how do I know I am alive? How do I know I am really awake? I somehow, some time, came up with the idea that we could be actually dead and that our "life" is actually us recounting our deeds, day by day, detail by detail at judgement...scary thought.

Anyway, we cannot for sure say whether we are alive or long dead and living in a serious "dream" or nightmare depending on your life. Therefore it does not matter. What matters then is that we savor our day to day experiences and enjoy "life".

Answer 4

Your body can't know that but the use of knowledge through thought tells "you" that the state "you" are in now is called 'alive'.
All of these labels are important to the imaged 'self' as it derives all of it's 'reality' from memory and the knowledge given to it by culture.
If this 'self' ends, the body may not disintegrate but the 'you' you use to navigate in this world will 'die'. The body has no use for this 'self' and does everything for 'you' while 'you' think and collect more and more cultural knowledge.
This 'you' cannot experience death as the very mechanism that created this entity will stop functioning prior to the death and disintegration of the body.

You know that 'you' are not dead because your culture tells 'you' so.

Answer 5

Because to read that question, I 'd have to be! And I don't think I am. But how do I know I'm not dead?

Answer 6

Good question. Its in a asking mode and that makes it
different. U wanted to know about your life in existence from
others or from something that is ourside of u, say exterior to
your body. Both the ways it is possible to identify. The people around you makes you to get on your senses, as you see them, hear them, feel them and more, confirming your existence and the fully awake conciousness! Others too
recogonise and call you and feel you to confirm you are alive
and so also the non life items also imprints making you to
respond enabling your conciousness to confirm you are
alive! In the moments where your conciousness is absent by
way of coma and you undergo a treatment in an intensive
care unit in a hospital, YES, you cannot find yourself alive
untill u regain conciousness and also with the ability to recogonise the life itself with the meaning understood for existence! For anything otherwise, you are dead for you and mostly for others too when you are terminaly ill having no scope to live again as normal human!

U really made me to think more to say these all ! Thanks.

Answer 7

You couldn't be at the time you posted this question, although it is possible, someone did it for you.

You could still be alive hopefully or you could be dead/dying as I write...nice knowing you for a short while.

Answer 8

Have you been burried? Has rigormortis set in? do people ignore you for no reason?

On a serious note.... your question depends on the universe revoling around you and suggests that we .. everyone else.. are just a matrix style illusion to fool u into thinking you are alive.

You are very much alive.. unless I am lying

Answer 9

You probably never existed in the first place. Everything in this world is entirely created by you. Yahoo! Answers is your definition of God where you come when you feel lost, to seek the inner guidance. We are all different aspects of your personality, fighting with each other inside your head...

Answer 10

Is there life around,that are alive?If so,than they think you are alive too,so,they talk,and breath,move...like you.I hope that helps.If you are dead,and got a hold of a computer and stuff,maybe you are just lost!Maybe you'll get lucky and find your way.

Answer 11

If your dead, hopefully you go to heaven, and they don't have Big Brother on TV in heaven. So if there is no BB on your set tonight you are alive. Of course it might mean your dead and in hell. :-)