2007-08-02 18:29:40 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
"World" really has two connotations. One is, of course, just the earth. But the word is also used when referring to the Universe. For the former, "on the world" would be okay but used less often that "in." "On the earth" would be better. For the latter, you could say "in the world." If you hear an expression like the biggest something "in the world," that is just a syntactical artifact. Because it would be "in" for almost everything else: the city, the state, the region, the county, the country, etc. Saying "in the world is consistent here, and in the same context.
2007-08-02 18:44:43 · answer #1 · answered by Brant 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the world means among the population. On the world means on the surface of the Earth. We are both.
2007-08-03 01:56:42 · answer #2 · answered by Princess Picalilly 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I know many people who are "on" the world and very few of us are actually "in" it. I, personally, try as much as possible to be "in" the world, but I know I do tend to be a rider upon this planet at time. To be truly IN the world is a full time job that requires a large amount of energy that I at times lack.
2007-08-03 01:42:01 · answer #3 · answered by b_friskey 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe we're "in" the world. The "world" is more than just the planet surface to me. One's experiences, observation, and conclusions are part of our world in addition to the physicality of our planet and it's place in the universe.
From a certain perspective, we "are" the world. It's the old adage; "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?", that rings pretty true. Without the observer is anything really observable?
2007-08-03 05:50:21 · answer #4 · answered by Darkpaths 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's OK to be "in" the world, just don't be "of" the world!
2007-08-03 01:38:13 · answer #5 · answered by jethrojimbob 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Really we migh as well consider us part of the world. We are a geo-physical force, there is no seperating us from the fate of the rest of the planet. We change it and it changes us. Living Earth.
2007-08-03 01:40:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We are among the denizens of the planet, in the world, and we are also on the surface, on the world.
2007-08-03 01:33:12 · answer #7 · answered by Dan in Real Life 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't know about "we", but I am "out of this world" got it???
2007-08-03 01:34:52 · answer #8 · answered by michelebaruch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are "In the world", because we are among the people, in many other languages, like french, spanish, "world" is "mundo" or "monde" which mean "people". That is why we are "in the world"
2007-08-03 02:15:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
since the world is flat to be in it means we must be flat. to be on the world means that we are like the icing on a very flat cake. i am flat but i ain't no icing, so don't try and trick me that way! sounds like you have been reading "how to bake a flat world with human icing".
2007-08-03 01:40:53 · answer #10 · answered by datingguy 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋