What is the Most Important Philosophical Question

a reply to: dfnj2015

Unless you have omnipotent powers to be able to control what you can choose does anyone really truly have free-will?

How in the world do you think omnipotence is required to make a choice. We make choices all the time and none of us are omnipotent. Your position is always so easily proven false by a simple trip to the grocery store. You need to go brush up on real logic. Learn the logical rules of inference they will help.

Getting back to the "most important philosophical question": Is love real?

Yes. How do i know? Because I love my mother, father, brother, and so on. Love is an experienced reality humans have interacted with.

Who created the Universe and who created the creator of the Universe and why the struggle?

lol

a reply to: belkide

Who created the Universe?

A “Sum-styled” Leibnizian Cosmological Argument
(1): Everything not existing by necessity (i.e. everything that could fail to exist) owes its existence to something external to itself. (For example, planets, lightning, and humanity each owes existence to something else.)
(2): Something exists (call it “the Universe” or “Big Contingent Sum”) which is the sum of all these things which do not exist by necessity.
(3): Therefore, “Big Contingent Sum” owes its existence to something external to itself.
(4): Whatever exists externally to “Big Contingent Sum” obviously cannot itself be contingent (i.e. cannot be part of that sum).
(5): Therefore, whatever exists externally to "Big Contingent Sum" is not contingent; by definition it exists of necessity.
Conclusion: Therefore, “Big Contingent Sum” owes its existence to something that exists by necessity.

According to this argument the cause of the universe was a metaphysically necessary entity by definition.

who created the creator of the Universe

Necessary entities are eternal so the question is a bit nonsensical. Just because you've heard Richard Dawkins say this doesn't mean it is actually a valid rebuttal.

originally posted by: ServantOfTheLamb
a reply to: BigBrotherDarkness

Ants are simply on task doing what ants do, they dont have reason to think about being anything other than an ant so an ant does what and ant does and can't cease to be anything other than an ant doing what an ant does.

No I don't think ants operate the same as humans. Ants do not lack critical thinking skills because they have no reason to think. Ants lack critical thinking skills because the do not have a level of awareness that allows them to do the things that humans can do. This higher level of awareness allows humans to make choices that go against natural responses of their body. Saying humans do what humans do and ants do what ants do is tautological. Of course they do, but that doesn't really get us anywhere on the topic of free will. Whether ants operate by free will or not is irrelevant to what humans are capable of.

Why are you projecting a human mirror on ants? I said nothing about humans in what you quoted that was all about ants and ant nature it has nothing to do with humans.

We may try to look at the ant appoint some king queen or rulers to act as head ant of government or world to mirror them... but that wont work it hasnt ever worked because it requires control. How are ants controlled? By scent by hormones the type of ant gives it a role a social class a hiearchy and it cannot be anything else a worker a worker, a drone a drone, a queen a queen it is born into those roles.

Clearly we have tried the hive in civilization after civilization... the tower or propaganda of babble to keep it going has always fallen, the ants of the past carried the pains of that labor like grains of memory called traditions passing them on and on here's my burden as an ant a cog. Find our ant people ant rebuild our kingdom our hive and keep it holy so we can keep crawling on your bellies through it.

Well perhaps when all the ants carrying those burdens set them down and say why carry this? I have enough to carry as is conceptual load is the metaphor. Then what can occur? The world can stop and say lets all build something worth building after all we are ants err I mean people, humanity itself... for the benefit of all.

That's where we all realistically want to head... but those in control keep sending out signal after signal no no no carry all that burden rebuild our kingdom I dont want my store house over flowing run dry keep dying in futility in war and famine for thousands of more years instead. Why? Control...

So there's the human mirroring the ant the bee the insectoid hive mind, programmed by the propaganda and tradition as signals to keep perpetuating the same thing with the same result each time...

Thats why i call it madness... thats why humanity is insanity repeating the same ignorance expecting a different outcome each time.

But the ant? the bee? is that what we should blame? or the early humans banding together looking at nature and seeing this process from observation and then a subject was born... gain subjects be the queen the king of the hive learn the signals to gather to attack to defend.

Yeah so what was your argument again?

a reply to: BigBrotherDarkness

originally posted by: BigBrotherDarkness
Freewill only goes as far the law that desires to control another allows, human and natural.

You've stumbled upon a problem. This tendency, deliberate or not, towards an anthropocentric view of the world. That somehow we're not bound by the same natural forces that everything else is. That it's us, and then everything else. "Human and natural" as you've defined above doesn't exist as a distinction. It's a human construct. One we've used to erect a certain reality by which we operate, however illusory it actually is. It's funny when you think about it. We're a delusional bunch. Must be a side effect of higher "intelligence and consciousness"

Why?

Why Indeed...

Free will, if a universal principle, should apply to everything, not just some forms of matter that happen to think they have a higher level of intelligence than other forms of matter. You don't know why you make the decisions that you do, when you do. Many other forms of life operate on instinct only, as if they're programmed to do so. Only difference is they're not aware of it half the time. Or are they?

a reply to: PhotonEffect

Stumbled? lol I first considered the ant in 1997... I was all depressed, feeling alone sitting on a back deck sun was shinning beautiful day and the whole world seemed horrible. Then I saw an ant lumbering along, what did this ant care about my problems and it appeared lost but still moving forward non stop... and here I was sitting lamenting whoa is me and then I thought right now someone somewhere was having the best day of their life right at that instant as it seemed one of my worse... and ding! The bell went off wasnt sad any more until I had my son tore away by infidelity.

Carried that weight of the world or burden on my shoulders... 16 whole years. Til I saw someone that appeared just as strong... and we had a moment I got her to lay her burden down and she the same with me. Both broken after that laying that burden down... but that strength returned took me longer perhaps? I dunno... but she appears better and hell knows I am.

How many havent seen the paralells is beyond me but many have... thats why the world is like F this. We are changing things...

a reply to: ServantOfTheLamb

Well what I was saying was that if we keep going into the past past the zero point we will experience the anti-matter dimension. There is a point where both begin, true, but one universe goes infinitely to the left and the other infinitely to the right if the x-axis represents time.

originally posted by: PageLC14

This now makes me question if I'm wrong in my leaning towards an individualistic focus above another. By pushing away from an individualistic philosophy are we then denying it? What is it the programs want you to focus your study on?

I assume the thought behind philosophy programs is that self-examination is a personal responsibility. You don't need a class or books or a teacher to examine yourself. You do need a class and books and teachers to study the ideas of others and expand your knowledge base. And once you expand your knowledge base you'll be better able to examine yourself.

In my degree I studied Greek philosophy, Logic, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Religion, 19th Century Philosophy, 20th Century Philosophy, Eastern Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, and Shakespeare. Out of those, I did the most self-examination in Shakespeare. It seems like Philosophy classes are more focused on understanding ideas, while Literature classes are focused on understanding people. And in order to understand people you have to understand yourself. So I was very glad to have taken a Literature class as part of my major.

Thanks for all of the replies. Here is what I've picked up so far.

The most important philosophical question should be:
-answerable
-individualistic

Top candidates:
-who do you trust?
-are you happy?
-what is the best way to live?
-how do I free myself from suffering?
-who ate all the pies?

originally posted by: belkide
Who created the Universe and who created the creator of the Universe and why the struggle?

lol

Existence and non-existence are the same thing in the mind of God. We are the Universe's way of experiencing itself. We are God's way of experiencing the thrill of having limitations. Reality is God's way of having something meaningful to do in his leisure time.

a reply to: Wang Tang

Thanks for your gracious hosting WT, and letting the ideas marinate for a few days.
As you have seen: although most might not have your qualifications, they/we still like to try to contribute tidbits, as varying as the nuggets may be. So thanks for mentioning that all opinions, have a certain interest.
Nice to see that the candidates, contain choices from various viewpoints. Doing/being; externalist/internalist; and so on.

Peace.

a reply to: darkbake

Well what I was saying was that if we keep going into the past past the zero point we will experience the anti-matter dimension. There is a point where both begin, true, but one universe goes infinitely to the left and the other infinitely to the right if the x-axis represents time.

I mean I don't really see any evidence for that. Want to explain the model you are talking about in more detail with some sources?

Without the ability to spontaneously create reality as we imagine it, that is, the power omnipotence, do we we really have free-will? Make a choice from a limited set of choices is not free-will.

Is still the think probably the most important question is why does anything exist at all as opposed to nothing?

Is your Big Bang the result of a star collapsing to a black hole in another space-time dimension is a good question too.

Is being a morally good person have a divine purpose?

a reply to: dfnj2015

Without the ability to spontaneously create reality as we imagine it, that is, the power omnipotence, do we we really have free-will?

Why in the world would you need to be able to do whatever is logically possible in order to choose. Your version of free will is insane. Why do you think just because your choices are limited that it therefore follows that something else made you choose other than your own volition. Basically what you have done is attempt to redefine free will as not being omnipotent.

Is your Big Bang the result of a star collapsing to a black hole in another space-time dimension is a good question too.

Why are you positing the existence of another space-time dimension?

Is being a morally good person have a divine purpose?

I think the better question is, "Do humans have intrinsic value without God?"

a reply to: BigBrotherDarkness

Yea I didn't get any of that . Just seems like a heap of word salad. No offense, just being honest.

a reply to: Wang Tang

Context is how I learned vocabulary without a dictionary... the words around it painted the picture like a frame painting what it meant.

Out of context? Well proper syntax somethings are bound to be out of place when relegating order... was each sand grain of time told when to fall down the hour glass? Where each grain would form the ant mound where?

Time dictates and well some ant mounds are higher on one side for some purpose I am not sure of... so there is communication of a specific even in ants.

Who is making that determination higher on that side?

Adaptation to adversity in my opinion is evolution... eventually we will evolve out of cancer and everyting else, but death painful loss painful so medicine to apply the brakes to the natural order... yet at the same time call it progress.

Yes it's a paradoxical conumdrum the more it is looked at... when death is certian I suppose we try to make life the same way.

Is my penis small?
a reply to: Wang Tang

originally posted by: VigiliaProcuratio
The most important, and most frequent, philosophical question in the history of mankind is...

What is the meaning of life?

And the simplest of answers to that question is...

To live.

Love.

Love is the meaning of life.

Love is all powerful, it can halt the bloodiest of wars. It can conquer evil and destroy hate without lifting a pinky finger. It nurtures life. Love is Almighty.

And it cannot be bought or sold.

It's a good thing that 'love' isn't a material 'thing', because the rich would likely bottle it and profit from it.

Spread the love and the world will be a wonderful place.

Just my thoughts.

a reply to: ServantOfTheLamb

Oh no offense taken, many people try to keep secrets... and well why do such a thing? If it is not somehing you comprehend then it is a secret to oneself and others not understanding either... to those that do understand it however... I'm just saying something they already are aware of.

I'm not trying to complicate or conflagerate, complicate, or confuse any meaning. Just expression of something... what that something means to someone is never up to anyone and in humility it doesn't mean anything to the one expressing it either. The ego keeps a secret and well in all honesty it doesn't when one can end self and other deciet then that is an expression of the true self.

No need to weave dreams and webs around people, however in the infinite being we have a spider nature the same as that of an ant. If we are unaware of what we are weaving just hungry then we are not aware of being the spider... being aware of the spider nature in one's weaving then one makes a web skillfully.

Is the spider trying to do anything other than eat? Only if it sits there in unawareness of it's true nature as a spider but life is life.

We when aware can say exactly what nature it is we are harnessing... but in true nature of form? The expression one sees occcuring is the honesty of that form... what hides such a thing?

Intent, a desire, an attachment that something other than what is occuring right then and right there is better. So what occurs the mind falls asleep and starts dreaming sleep walking while awake and the "chaos" of the world goes to work. When in the true nature of being or awake not dreaming but doing what one is doing fully mindful and aware of it as it is occuring? No intent good or bad just doing the task at hand, like right now I am nothing but a typist in this form the intent is to give you clarity so there is no grasping at what has been previously typed.

Has this made it worse for you to comprehend? Or given you an insight into something other than making salads chopping things up to feed some appetite?

I can't say it is what it is... but any attachment to mind and concepts? Prevents flow changes it...

So you said no offense, well my friend in acceptance there is no defense... but I can appreciate the respect to any emotions that may reflecto out of some silly attachments that could be held onto as a self... like hey I am holding secrets not for you to know ouch watch my foot, you're sitting in my seat etc etc.

It's kinda a funny thing when taken so seriously... it arises and it passes, comes and goes cant have one without the other so whatever it is arising? It too shall also pass, and the only reason it doesn't? Well who is holding, who is grasping, and who has let go?

It's not as easy to answer those 3 questions in awareness of the infinite nature of being... because eventually all of this chaos is seen with the clear eye of darma(law) governing nature is order in and of itself so is the order chaos in and of itself as the universal or true nature of being expresses itself called life through all forms... what we get stuck or trapped in being? Our own personal hangups heavens or hells.

Free will is choosing them, unawareness of this by direct experience? Unaware one is choosing them or suffering due to a limited form when form is unlimited.

So self and other? Or just an other self? As one expresses their nature nature reflects it back in mindful awareness as karma if one can see it arising and passing chaos, if one cannot see it arising and passing order.

Clearing seeing is aware of both being one and the same. Hearing the same way, touch the same way, smell and taste all life is food... all matter and life together? The one mind, the all, the infinite nature of being... if oneself is not an expression of it? All others are... when it flows on through unobstructed it just is when it flows and hits and obstruction also it just is... making it something other than either? Just a part of life in flowing and over coming obsticles.

Being an obsticle to others in the expression of the self as the one unaware of others as an expression of the one in such unawareness is where kindness, compassion, and empathy, ignores the pain like a parent that does not mind a toe getting steped on, would scacrifice them self without question just as those aware of such things smile on like rays of the sun supporting life as it all spins around.

When my child was torn away, with all the unconditional love I had and no where to give it, like walking around as an aborted foetus myself? I decided to start giving that unconditional love to the world, it hasn't been an easy journey same with any parents love and acceptance of a child unconditionally.

Maybe that's an odd path to take? Seemed natural at the time and well how is anything we ever do un-natural?

originally posted by: redoubt
a reply to: Wang Tang

“what is the most important philosophical question?”

As a species, we have not yet reached a point to even understand what such a question might actually be. We are too damned caught up with politics and egos to even begin to understand.

We are an infant species... and when the nursery door opens, we're gonna crap our diapers.

This may be the only way we can progress/learn, that being, through experiencing struggles/discomforts (we prefer comfort and security), then we will be in a position to ask ourselves exploratory questions so as to move forward to a united or personal end/goal.