The ultimate question, in my opinion, really is

Is the hardware of the Universe physical matter, or consciousness? And vice versa, is the software of the Universe physical matter, or consciousness?

If the consciousness is the hardware, that is, the real basis of reality, than existence is spiritual and likely meaningful, if the real basis of reality is physical matter, than existence is material and probably pointless.

The only problem with your analogy is that you're suggesting these things are mutually exclusive. If you haven't already read about 'Duality' (or is it dualism? I forget exactly) then you may find it interesting.

I don't fully comprehend it but I like to think anyone who truly fully did would have ascended or some such

I would be careful considering the pointlessness of things, it can lead to bad thoughts haha

A rather cool question, my friend.

Hardware of the universe.

I'm not even sure there is any hardware at all.

Maybe it's just all software.

The hardware might just be in your mind? Or mine.

I dunno, but I enjoy these subjects, and really can't contribute much,.at least in my software mind, and so, I'm going to bed. The sun is rising, and soon it will be hot. And Iwant to sleep through the worst of it.

reply to post by March of the Fire Ants


The pointlessness of things.



Nice comment.

It`s weird that we look for reality in material matter, when most of this known universe is space. It`s just not seen so forgotten. Imagine that all you really are is space, with the appearance of a body and mind overlaid.
What are you now, as this space?

reply to post by 19872012


I think that there only is consciousness and that physical matter doesn't even exist at all, it's just an illusion.

Just a place were consciousness can experience existance in it's most raw, passionate and emotional form.

I think the analogy hardware/software is pretty good, I used a similar one to explain the situation to myself.

I thought of an online computer game.

You have this map that you play in, and that map is encoded in the software, if then people play in that map, their hardware only renders the part of the map that their character is looking at.

All ten off them see a different part of the map, but the map never "exists" in its entirety. Meaning it;s just data floating around, waiting to be rendered by some hardware.

When these players meet in the map, their realities cross and they intereact, but the map never really exists in it's complete form.

Like the old question, "does a tree falling in the woods make any sound, if there's noone there to hear it"

I think that part of the woods doesn't even exist in physical reality, for it is not rendered if nobody's there.

Just speculation off course.

From Quantum sciences, it seems that human consciousness is influencing the very particles that "reality" is made off.

Like reality is being "rendered" by our consciousness, like an xbox running a game.

So you could say that consciousness is the "hardware" that enables this simulation, and that "software" is the program that is physical reality, at least in my opinion.

Originally posted by 19872012
Is the hardware of the Universe physical matter, or consciousness? And vice versa, is the software of the Universe physical matter, or consciousness?

If the consciousness is the hardware, that is, the real basis of reality, than existence is spiritual and likely meaningful, if the real basis of reality is physical matter, than existence is material and probably pointless.

Interesting question, 19872012. I have come to believe that there is a "hardware" associated with the Earth Matrix, consisting of a soul gathering device that collects soul material upon physical death, neutralizes it, and sends it back to newborn human bodies. The software consists of a created, electromagnetic reality that reacts to our thoughts, but can be controlled, so that events can happen as planned and people, (humans) will be complacent and satisfied.
I could be wrong, of course, but it all seems to fit, doesn't it?

I just spent an hour typing a great response based on software and hardware analogies, but I realized my response did not quite answer your question due to our differences in defining software and hardware. FML.

Anyways, based on "basis of reality", one's consciousness has to be the basis of reality...or at least the doorstep of it.

First of all, I define consciousness simply as awareness, and the mind as a processor that interprets what one has perceived through his/her consciousness (that's not the only thing the mind does by the way). I had to include the mind because this question is hard to answer without it.

Now let's say someone has been beat up in front of us. We both become aware of the beating as it enters our consciousness via our senses. It is the same beating, yet your interpretation of it may differ from mine, and that unique interpretation is reality. Furthermore, I might think that person deserved to be beat for some reason. Therefore, the world I live in is bound by karma, a just place. On the other hand, you may be horrified of what you've just saw--the world you live in is a violent place full of hate.

I have abandoned of your choices for basis of reality: physical matter or consciousness. Reality depends on one's perception. For one, existence may be spiritual and meaningful if he/she associates the world that way, and for another, the world may be materialistic and boring if he/she interprets the world that way.

I hope I made sense, it's 4:30 in the morning.


Wow that feels so unorganized and all over the place.

[edit on 12-8-2010 by italiansalad]

Originally posted by 19872012


If the consciousness is the hardware, that is, the real basis of reality, than existence is spiritual and likely meaningful, if the real basis of reality is physical matter, than existence is material and probably pointless.

Then why question?

If anything is meaningful, it is to that person who sees it as so. If it's pointless, then who cares?

It's all just subjective, to the questioner, and possibly the person who answers.

Do you have meaning, or are you pointless?

You wrote it, so think hard about your answer!

A clue would be in the questioning, itself!