Can you lend credit to or discredit the following:?

Question

It is only that others acknowledge us we know we exist.

Please elaborate. Thanks!

Answer 1

As far as I'm concerned, whether or not anyone else in the world acknowledges my existence, I'm pretty much certain that I exist.

As I sit here at my computer, I'm snacking on a row of saltines. I had to open the wrapper, so the fact that the once unopened row is now open is pretty much evidence that I exist. The crackers are disappearing, so unless I'm the Cracker-Eating-Fairy, I pretty much think that shows that I exist.

For most people the real problem isn't in knowing that they exist but in having other people see the "real" them that they are.

Some people need validation or approval from others in order to feel reassured, but that isn't needing to know they exist. That's needing to feel validated - and there's a difference.

I generally think that the statement in question is a silly one. Call me, "simple minded".....

Answer 2

There is some validity, in that the human being, born, without sustained eye contact with significant care giver (usually the mother) within the first 45 Minutes, loses much of its consciousness, and does not rise to that level for several months (noted per mri, etc. studies).

Thus, for the neonate, a degree of awareness of Self in first 45 Minutes, that will disintegrate if not given acceptance and acknowledgement by significant other.

For rare souls, who have Realization before birth, who are "twice born" ("Reborn in the West: The Reincarnation Masters," Vicki MacKenzie, "Life before Life," Jim Tucker, M.D., "Babies Remember Birth," David Chamberlain, Ph.D., "Expecting Adam," Martha Beck, Ph.D.) there are other bases for Self-awareness. Those souls who are close to Self-realization may seek and find true Teachers of the higher life ("Men in White Apparel" and "Watch Your Dreams," Ann Ree Colton, "Climb the Highest Mountain," Mark Prophet, and "Light Is a Living Spirit" and "Education Begins before Birth," O. M. Aivanhov), in order to move from a need to be acknowledged to Self-individuation.

Christ Jesus' birth was such a Way-showing, and Saint John the Baptist's recognition of Jesus while in the womb, Saint Paul's recognition that God separated him in the womb, and Abraham's pre-conception conversing with Melchizedek are examples of such Beings.

best regards,

j.

Answer 3

Basically, in object relations theory in Psychology, this is a MUST. Without being acknowledged, we will die.

Otherwise, once we are over 4 or so, we can acknowledge ourselves, so we theoretically no longer need much acknowledgement by others. We can create "imaginary playmates" or a "theoretical mental audience" to talk to in our minds, and we'll survive, although poorly.

Answer 4

No, I think Decartes got this one right. Our knowledge of our own existence is incorrigible. It's impossible for me to be mistaken about my own existence simply because I experience first person subjectivity.

Before anybody else could serve as a basis for thinking I exist, I would first have to know that the other person exists. But it is at least possible that I could be mistaken about that. The other person could be a dream, a hallucination, or a product of the matrix.

A conclusion can never be as certain as the premises upon which it is based. So if my knowledge of my own existence depends on my knowledge of somebody else's existence, and my knowledge of somebody else's existence can never be absosmurfly certain, then my knowledge of my own existence can never be absosmufly certain.

But my knowledge of my own existence IS absosmurfly certain. Therefore, my knowledge of myself does not depend on my knowledge of anybody else, much less their acknowledgement of me.

Answer 5

We exist in relation to others. A person alone on an island (or isolated in a jail cell for that matter) would end up going nuts over time.

Answer 6

I am assuming we are speaking in philosophical terms. In my humble opinion, you can't use an outside observtion to verify anything about your existence. To do so is to nullify the validity of your own perceptions,.and corrupt the purity of the observation.

[Edit] Forgive me if I appear to be rambling. To quote a line from 'Men at Work", "I'm very tired, and I'm not feelin' right".

Answer 7

Do you exist when you're alone? 8^)

Rene Descartes gave the problem of proving existence a lot of thought and his thoughts have been very influential on those who followed him. He realized that we could be wrong about -anything-, anything we thought or felt or observed or believed, any of it could be wrong. But just the fact that we feel or observe or believe shows that we EXIST! Descartes did -not- say 'Cogito ergo sum', he said 'Je pense donc je suis', which means the same thing. I think, therefore I exist.

Answer 8

That's wrong.
We know we exist because we have five senses that state otherwise. Whether someone acknowledges us or not we know by touch, sound, taste, sight, and scents that we do exist.
Don't need others to confirm or deny our existence. We have ourselves for that.

Answer 9

Yes, it’s a relative term. You hide in a jungle for considerable time; you will cease to exist for others. To say in practical terms, I exist because of my parents.
Just a thought—Let me be frank, I am a big 0 in philosophy of human mind

Answer 10

I think therefore I am.
What is a beach with out the sand that makes it..