How and why we here?

Kell

Having read through Devore's symposium entitled "DeVore's Grand Unified Theory of God, Religion, Science and The Whole Lot" I got to thinking that I'd like to know what other peoples opinions are on life the universe and everything. (No 42's here unless you truly believe it to be the answer)

I for one am a believer in the big bang theory and the continuous evolution that sprang from it. I also believe in supreme being of some description that caused the big bang as for me, chance luck whatever you want to call cant be at play on such a grand scale. I dont believe in someone that watches over and keeps us safe however.

As to why we are here? I reckon we are here to have fun- period. Whenever I look at examples from the wild animal kingdom animals have a tendency to sleep, eat, shag and play. The only animals that I can see that undertake any sort of organised work are small, sometimes unsanitary and generally have nothing outside their work. Look at ants FFS. I feel that world is turning into one large ant colony and people are spending less and less time having what I reckon we were put here for- to have fun. After all, we are supposed to be God's master creation, so what the fúck are we working our asses off for when we should be just living off the fat of the land.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

i think it's all chance

you say you don't think chance could work at this big a scale.. why not? ... all that has to happen is one thing leads to another, which leads to another... which blah blah blah

with the age of the universe and the size and complexity of it, it is entirely possible that it's all random.

I don't believe there is any inherent meaning to life, if you want to give your life meaning somehow then feel free, but I live.. to live. I exist simply so that I don't not exist (ick, double negatives)

davej

We are here because it is possible for us to exist.

chance luck whatever you want to call cant be at play on such a grand scale

Why can't chance or conicidence be the reason?
These concepts are human constructs and don't really wash "on a grand scale".



davej

Beruthiel

I for one am a believer in the big bang theory and the continuous evolution that sprang from it.

I am also of this opinion

I also believe in supreme being of some description that caused the big bang

I don't believe this, I just think our minds are too tiny yet to work out what happened before the big bang
I think it is just chance we are here, that there is no hugh meaning and so we might as well make the most of it and enjoy life while we have it.

bonkey

Originally posted by Kell
I also believe in supreme being of some description that caused the big bang as for me, chance luck whatever you want to call cant be at play on such a grand scale.

Well, standing next in line to take a shot at this one...

Let's say you're right. Lets say that something of this complexity had to have a creator. But that creator (and its existence / universe) is also of sufficient complexity that it too must have had a creator.

Guess what....its infinitely recursive logic. Not very appealing, as you have to resort to "tricks" to resolve it, and those tricks are generally as plausible or likely as the chance luck you discarded at the start.

Note the the uncareful reader : I am not ruling out the possibility that the universe may have been created, I am simply saying that I disagree in Kell's reasoning as to why he believe's there must be a creator.

As for why we are here? I dont believe there is a "why" in the religious or moralistic sense that would come from any sort of creator. Its not impossible...just even less likely than a creator itself. I believe we are here because we are the result of a chain of events, stemming back to the big bang. Nothing more. Pure chance, if you will.

I'm more concerned in understanding *what* we are than *why*. You know - the horrible discussion about consciousness, humanity, self-awareness, emotions, and so on, which inevitably leads into someone bringing up souls, and the whole thing turning full circle back to "is there a god" again, so lets skip that one this time

The other question is "now that we find ourselves here, what should we do". This is often mistaken for "why", but its a completely different question as far as I'm concerned. I'm not even sure I could phrase my answer to that one yet....I must go and think on it.

jc

Kell

Originally posted by bonkey
I'm more concerned in understanding *what* we are than *why*. You know - the horrible discussion about consciousness, humanity, self-awareness, emotions, and so on, which inevitably leads into someone bringing up souls, and the whole thing turning full circle back to "is there a god" again, so lets skip that one this time :)jc

To what end do you seek to understand or unravel the complexity of the human mind, emotion etc? I was reading through the other post on Free Will and theories posted on the complexity and construction of the brain, however, it beats me as to why one would choose to understand what makes it all tick.

Is it exploration for explorations sake or exploration in order to modify how the system works?

bonkey

Originally posted by Kell
Is it exploration for explorations sake or exploration in order to modify how the system works?

Both, although I may mean modification in a way you dont.

For example - imagine that you break a bone. This can be reset almost perfectly because we understand bones and bone structure. Indeed, a m8 of mine was recently working on a project to develop a new type of bone replacement for certain types of surgery....

This type of thing is a modification to the normal run of events, but we choose to label it and its ilk under a less ominous term such as "medicine".

My personal belief is that understanding more about what consciousness is, and how it functions can be both englightening from an intellectual point of view, as well as useful through practical application of that knowledge.

Yes - that knowledge can be abused....but all knowledge can be abused.

If nothing else, I would love to see the understanding of consciousness develop if only to shut up those religious zealots who point to consciousness as "proof" that god exists.

jc

mike65

I'll tell you why we're here...because.

Thats why!

Okay thats not very deep, but I find little change is too be found in such
"late night after a drink" musings.

Mike.