The Ten Great Questions of Philosophy

[Topside]

So, you think you know how to think? Then ponder if you will these imponderables, the top 10 questions which have cost philosophers and teachers throughout the ages countless hours of sleep...

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)
2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)
3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)
4. Where did I come from? (Origin)
5. Who am I? (Identity)
6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)
7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)
8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)
9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)
10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

Answer in short form, and please, do answer.

[Tarrou]

Topside

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)

"I am, I exist"; "I think therefore I am"; "Cogito Ergo Sum" - DesCartes
It's been answered.

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2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)

It's relative to one's own position in life, religion, and personal belief. Or, biologically, to reproduce and perpetuate the species.

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3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)

See answer to question two. Biologically, it's instict.

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4. Where did I come from? (Origin)

The co-mingling of my parents genetic material. God, if I believe in it.

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5. Who am I? (Identity)

Myself. A thing that thinks (DesCartes again).

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6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)

My conciousness ceases to exist. Heaven/reincarnation/Hell/afterlife if I'm religious.

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7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)

No, but that's just an opinion. Ultimately it's unprovable.

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8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)

Social contract.

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9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)

Define "greater".

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10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

Probably not, but I'll never really know.

[maenad nuri]

Topside

So, you think you know how to think? Then ponder if you will these imponderables, the top 10 questions which have cost philosophers and teachers throughout the ages countless hours of sleep...

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)
2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)
3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)
4. Where did I come from? (Origin)
5. Who am I? (Identity)
6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)
7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)
8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)
9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)
10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

Answer in short form, and please, do answer.

1. As far as I know, yes. I could be one very long dream of a itinerat farmer on the planet griz'ald, but it doesn't seem likely.
2. Who cares, I'm here. Whee!
3. See 2.
4. Chaos, everything came from the yawning void (Greek Creation)
5. Now this is a tougher one. But mostly, I'm made up of a lot of different parts that creates a whole. Sometimes I hide these parts, and sometimes I overload on them.
6. Underworld, maybe reincarnation. I'll find out later.
7. Yes. Polytheism.
8. Everything in Moderation, Including Moderation (plus bits of epicurism)
9. Mortal. I can be a great mortal, a hero, but unless they will it, never divine.
10. Subjective to the person. I may not matter in the long run of things, but in the now I am important to someone.

[Starlock]

Woot! Topside, you rock! Topics like this are such great fun! (rubs hands together with anticipation) Can't wait to see what other people post and challenge them to see things from different angles... whee! I really think you should've broken these down into smaller chunks, though, because this discussion is quickly going to be hard to manage since there are so many different topics.

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)

This question can't really be answered in terms of absolute truth. In my philosophy, all is both simontaneously possible and impossible. However, as humans, limite dto perceving things in four dimentions, it's best to stick ourselves with the most probable answer to these sorts of problems. Humans shouldn't concern themselves with silly questions like this. You can see yourself. You can influence other things. You can think. You exist. Why ponder such silly questions? Hehe.

2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)

Whatever you want to do with it. Life is what you make of it. It ultimately has no purpose other than what you place into it. Most people strive for perfection, or betterment of themselves or the world around them.

3. Why am I supposed to [do] that with my existence? (Reason)

(chuckles) Why ask such silly questions? Silly humans will just drive themselves crazy asking such nonsensical questions with no answers! Find your own personal answer and stick to it. Change it later in life if you feel you should.

4. Where did I come from? (Origin)

A woman's v****a. =P Where'd that come from? Where'd all things come from? Who knows. It's just here. So I'm just here. Why should I care? It is so much simpler to not ponder such silly questions... hehe. Whether I'm here out of randomness or the hand of deities and higher dimentional forces is irrelevant to me. I'm here.

5. Who am I? (Identity)

Ooo... yay! This makes me want to pull stuff from my personality class lectures. Self-identity is a thing a lot of people are unsure of and don't develop until later in life. Some people never develop it. It's always a good question to ask, and a little more sensible than some of the other ones here. Knowing thyself is important. Just don't claim to know everything about yourself. =)

6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)

I rot and return to the earth. If there be a entity called the soul which inhabits my body, which cannot be proven to exist, than perhaps I am reborn. Who is to say? Who knows? It is all conjecture, ne?

7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)

Humans shape their own lenses of reality. If the lens they shape provides the conduits for belief in the divine, it exists, and they know it. If it does not, there is no divine and it is unknowable. There's no ultimate truth here, only how you decide to shape your lens. From a less spiritual standpoint, all creatures of the earth have strengths and weaknesses, and are greater than humans in at least one respect (and are also consequently inferior to humans in others).

8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)

(smiles) Now this one gets interesting. Morality is, like everything else, ultimately relative. However, it is best to set one's morals to harmonize with the society you live in, unless you're willing to be jailed and suffer for your deviant ways. Morals change over time. They have through history and will continue to do so. Pick what is right for you and what is most harmonious with your surroundings.

9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)

Who knows. In the current life, we can better ourselves. We can become stronger, faster, learn new things, gain new skills. To me, this is becoming something greater than the person once was. Learning is ascendence. To me, anyway. Oh, how sweet it would be to hole myself up in the Library of Congress for a decade or so...

10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

Nope. Not unless you decide to attach meaning to it. The only meaning is your own.

[Ikeda Kazuma]

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)
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Yes. In order to experience these thoughts I have I must exist in some form.

2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)
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I don't believe in purpose, I exist, live and die... thats it.

3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)
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It's the way things are. So I must accept it as it is.

4. Where did I come from? (Origin)
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Something, most definately... for me, 'nothing' is a theory and not much else

5. Who am I? (Identity)
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I am me, the me defined as me by me and not by others.

6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)
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I will go on, see here for my argument: Afterlife, I can't be no-more

7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)
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There must be, as something must always come before in my opinion time is infinite.

8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)
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Yes. I can't prove other's exist, but I can't prove they do not so I must respect that mines may be a shared existance.


9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)
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Yes, there is a lways a possibility. I can't write it off.


10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)
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Yes. Though a pointless existance it may be on a universal scale, it still matters to the self and if others exist, to the others I interact with also.

[Sotek]

Topside

So, you think you know how to think? Then ponder if you will these imponderables, the top 10 questions which have cost philosophers and teachers throughout the ages countless hours of sleep...

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)

Decartes.

This one's been answered.

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2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)

I say make people happy. Alternatively: Life's what you make of it, and so's purpose.

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3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)

I hardly see a need to justify the alternative above...
and making people happy makes most other people happy. Not a lot of justification required.

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4. Where did I come from? (Origin)

Unless you've got a good reason to do otherwise (and nobody does), why not just go with what science says here?

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5. Who am I? (Identity)

I am who I am. Basically Decartes again.

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6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)

Evidence suggests: I go away.
It'll suck. That's where medicine comes into play; maybe we'll get immortality within our lifetimes. >.>

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7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)

Given that we can't even have perfect knowledge of this reality, speculating about metaphysics seems like a giant exercise in "wow, I'm dumb".

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8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)

One can come up with several answers; I say yes, the proper way to act is the one that is best for all people.

I don't say it's right to do what the big bearded daddy in the sky says, though.

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9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)

Can you improve? Self-evidently.
"become something greater"? Depends on what you mean.

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10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

This is basically 2 restated; I say yes.

[Yisp]

Sotek, for the love of philosophy, the guy is called DeScartes. ^__^

Identity
An illusion. There is no consistent "I". The consciousness is a small part of your psyche, and it is not the determining part either.

Existence
Relative to your surrounding, yes. But absolute? Nah, you do not exist to something outside of your physical reach.

Purpose
All answers to this question are inherently linked to the morality question. You define a philosophical purpose which stands in accordance to the reason, the origin, and the proposed morality.
Philosophy does no longer try to find absolute purposes, since it has become pretty obvious that nature does not present itself very purposeful.
Purpose is another convenient and effective way to concentration, motivation and finally action.

Reason
Desires of your body and psyche. I believe your rational apparatus is heavily influenced by unconscious elements of your psyche and body.
Your entire body and psyche (which I shall refer to as Form) determine a desire, according to which "you" conststruct a "reason", to be more efficient in carrying it out. Whereby the apparatus itself, of course, is not constructed only by your conscious self either.

Origin
Evolution.

Destiny
If your brain stops functioning, your consciousness simply disappears. The particles you are made of split up, and since "you" are not the particles themselves, but the organized form they took in, when the form is lost, so are you.

Divinity
Existence is not measured in greatness o__O

Morality
You can find out as much as possible about your Form and surrounding, and try not to assimilate any psychical filters (paradigms) that create unbearable repressions within your Form. That's as proper as it imo can get.

Ascendence
No, no matter what you do, you are born a homo sapiens, and you will die a homo sapiens.

Relevence
Yes, you change the surrounding you are in, simply by being there, as an organized system.

[xsparkledovex]

1. Do I really exist? - I can only assume so, since everyone else sure acts like I do.

2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? - Whatever I want and think is best.

3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? - to do that? Because I want to and I've judged it best to do.

4. Where did I come from? - my mommy.

5. Who am I? - myself.

6. What becomes of me when I am no more? - if I'm no more, then nothing can become of me because I'm not around anymore o.O If that's an attempt to ask about my afterlife beliefs, then reincarnation all the way

7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? - possibly.

8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? - non-destructively generally I suppose, and how I deem fit

9. Can I become something greater? - always

10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? -I say it does, so it does.

[The Zen Sandwich]

Topside

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)
2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)
3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)
4. Where did I come from? (Origin)
5. Who am I? (Identity)
6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)
7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)
8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)
9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)
10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

1. I beileve I am... thus I am here.
2. I am supposed to press foreward and see what happens.
3. Ask not why. Rather "why not?"
4. I came from somewhere, and going somewhere else. What more is needed to know?
5. I am the daughter of exsistence, and the creation of my parents.
6. I will live again and learn more
7. Yes there is something greater, but I will not know of it in this form.
8. Yes, but it is different for everyone.
9. Learn and you will be great
10. Who cares if it matters or not? We are here to make the most of it.

[Deoridhe]

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)
This one has, of course, been covered. Gotta love Rene!

2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)
Why are we necessarily "supposed" to do anything?

3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)
People do things either because they want to or they feel compelled to.

4. Where did I come from? (Origin)
Does it matter? One can dwell for all the ages on what came before and what could come after, but one would miss what is occuring if one were to do that.

5. Who am I? (Identity)
I am crystaline and poetic thought, enfleshed and painfully tempered by all that surrounds me.

6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)
See answer to 4.

7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)
I have a sense there is, and things have happened to me that would lead me to have faith. I call what I have faith in my name and believe it recognizes me.

8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)
Yes, but it varies with circumstances.

9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)
Do you want to? Why are you displeased with that which is?

10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

Would you rather believe it does or believe it doesn't? Which would fulfill you more? Where do you place your values?

[Fiddlers Green]

Topside

So, you think you know how to think? Then ponder if you will these imponderables, the top 10 questions which have cost philosophers and teachers throughout the ages countless hours of sleep...

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)
2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)
3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)
4. Where did I come from? (Origin)
5. Who am I? (Identity)
6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)
7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)
8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)
9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)
10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

1. As far as it matters to me, yes
2. Live
3. Because live is the basis of the word living
4. My molecules have existed since the birth of the stars, My soul predates that. I came from many places to form... me
5. The person writing this response
6. My physical essence returns to the whole of creation, The rest is the last great adventure, I'll know when I get there.
7. I am niether the greatest nor least of beings
8. I have to be able to sleep at night...
9. I am becoming something greater
10. It's all that has any real bearing on me.

[Thorn Knight]

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1. Do I really exist? (Existence)

we do exist because our senses tell us so.

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2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)

to live, multiply and teach our ancestors.

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3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)

because we accept that we live, breath and survive in a cruel world.

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4. Where did I come from? (Origin)

from the first mother and father.

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5. Who am I? (Identity)

we are ourselves, individuals.

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6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)

perhaps the afterlife or perhaps eternal peace.

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7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)

there is only something if you believe in it.

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8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)

live with strength, kindness, love and a sense to live.

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9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)

yes and no. we can become by focusing our minds to it, but yet we still live with mortality.

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10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

of course. our existence does matter above all, even in memory.

[Oh-mi-kaze]

Topside

So, you think you know how to think?

If you did, would you be asking such an obviously dipshit question?

Topside

Then ponder if you will these imponderables, the top 10 questions which have cost philosophers and teachers throughout the ages countless hours of sleep...

Gee, thanks! Lord knows I love a good few weeks of insomnia!

Topside

1. Do I really exist? (Existence)

Socrates is real. Danny Millman is fictional.

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2. What am I supposed to do with my existence? (Purpose)

An "absurd" question. Much like the world.

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3. Why am I supposed to that with my existence? (Reason)

All is suffering.

4. Where did I come from? (Origin)[/quote]
Ex nihilo?

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5. Who am I? (Iden

k5dvcsqy:8="Topside

5. Who am I? (Identity)

Sam I. Am.

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6. What becomes of me when I am no more? (Destiny)

Uh, dead? Nodded off into the Big Sleep? Six feet under? Packed in black? Pushing up daisies? Driving off in the Big Caddy in the sky? Kicked the bucket?

Pull an all-nighter, folks, I got eighteen hours left.

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7. Is there an existence greater than mine, and can I know of it? (Divinity)

You are to be assimilated into the Collective. Resistance is futile.

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8. Is there a proper way to conduct myself within this existence? (Morality)

WAS?! Herr Nietzsche rollt in seinem grab!

Everyone knows that a decline of noble morality and a propogation of social and cultural decadence is the natural flow of human survival constructs.

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9. Can I become something greater? (Ascendence)

Not with this line of questioning.

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10. Does my existence - or anything else's - really matter? (Relevence)

First off, you don't even know you exist. Even if it does, why should yours matter? Here's my philosophy, "******** you. I exist, because you need a reason."

Topside

Answer in short form, and please, do answer.

Happy, you egotistical GD p***k? Don't ask for a complete philosophy when we're still borrowing from Plato.

[Yisp]

Thornmind

to live, multiply and teach our ancestors.

Aye, that sounds awesome! *digs out granny to teach her some calculus*

[deviousraccoon]

That existence one bugs me.

Existence was there before we had a name for it. There was this state of being that we knew was true. We called it existence. If existence did not exist. we would not have named it. We have to exist because the state of being there, the thing we call existence, is true. We didn't come up with the abstract idea of existence and then realise that we did exist; it was the other way around. Even ignoring Descartes' "I think; therefore, I am," we can conclude we exist because we named existence after our state of being. If we didn't not have a state of being, the meaning of the word existence and the word itself would not have been created. A definiton needs to exist before there's a word.

Oh, and I don't care about the other ones.