I have put this in the atheism and religion section, though I am not sure it actually belongs here. Never mind.
Does the sheer bizarre strangeness of being human ever enter your mind? Today I had a sudden insight into it and it occurred to me that everything is contingent, contextual, human centred (from our perspective) and actually virtual in that we project all our meaning onto the world.
Before people understood light there were theories that it was generated in the eye and went out to the world to see it. It seems to me that this is exactly what the mind does. There is no 'chairness' just the idea of a chaor projected onto some wood, for example.
And this is just one small example of peculiarness.
I knew the acid would bite back over the years..
The peculiar business of being human
Re: The peculiar business of being human
Her hobbies include perspicacity and building models of the soul in lego.
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Xamonas Chegwé
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
You are correct Rumertron. We certainly do impose our human-centric view upon the world, often without any justification. The idea of things being 'for' something, especially other animals, is a huge part of our collective psyche.
btw, I am moving this to the General Discussion, inc. Philosophy section, as it is more philosophy than religion IMO.
btw, I am moving this to the General Discussion, inc. Philosophy section, as it is more philosophy than religion IMO.
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
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Rum
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
Oh the power of the mod!Xamonas Chegwé wrote:You are correct Rumertron. We certainly do impose our human-centric view upon the world, often without any justification. The idea of things being 'for' something, especially other animals, is a huge part of our collective psyche.
btw, I am moving this to the General Discussion, inc. Philosophy section, as it is more philosophy than religion IMO.
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Xamonas Chegwé
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
As you can see, it has corrupted me beyond belief.Rumertron wrote:Oh the power of the mod!Xamonas Chegwé wrote:You are correct Rumertron. We certainly do impose our human-centric view upon the world, often without any justification. The idea of things being 'for' something, especially other animals, is a huge part of our collective psyche.
btw, I am moving this to the General Discussion, inc. Philosophy section, as it is more philosophy than religion IMO.
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
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Pappa
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
Just being a living entity is weird enough (in the grand scheme of things). How odd is it to be alive and sentient in a universe of physical matter and energy?
For information on ways to help support Rationalia financially, see our funding page.
When the aliens do come, everything we once thought was cool will then make us ashamed.
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Xamonas Chegwé
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I speak 9 languages fluently, one of which other people can also speak.
When backed into a corner, I fit perfectly - having a right-angled arse. - Location: Nottingham UK
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
Even odder that there is anything at all. The most fundamental question of philosophy - and the most pointless to actually ask.Pappa wrote:Just being a living entity is weird enough (in the grand scheme of things). How odd is it to be alive and sentient in a universe of physical matter and energy?
A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
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cowiz
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
Must be god then. That's settled it.Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Even odder that there is anything at all. The most fundamental question of philosophy - and the most pointless to actually ask.Pappa wrote:Just being a living entity is weird enough (in the grand scheme of things). How odd is it to be alive and sentient in a universe of physical matter and energy?
It's a piece of piss to be cowiz, but it's not cowiz to be a piece of piss. Or something like that.
Re: The peculiar business of being human
Not as peculiar as being a testicle.
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
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Pappa
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
That was always my favourite philosophical question... even better when it is put so starkly...Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Even odder that there is anything at all. The most fundamental question of philosophy - and the most pointless to actually ask.Pappa wrote:Just being a living entity is weird enough (in the grand scheme of things). How odd is it to be alive and sentient in a universe of physical matter and energy?
"Why is there anything at all?".
As you said really, there never will be an answer.
For information on ways to help support Rationalia financially, see our funding page.
When the aliens do come, everything we once thought was cool will then make us ashamed.
Re: The peculiar business of being human
Pappa wrote:That was always my favourite philosophical question... even better when it is put so starkly...Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Even odder that there is anything at all. The most fundamental question of philosophy - and the most pointless to actually ask.Pappa wrote:Just being a living entity is weird enough (in the grand scheme of things). How odd is it to be alive and sentient in a universe of physical matter and energy?
"Why is there anything at all?".
As you said really, there never will be an answer.
Why wouldn't there be?
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
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Pappa
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
An answer?Animavore wrote:Pappa wrote:That was always my favourite philosophical question... even better when it is put so starkly...Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Even odder that there is anything at all. The most fundamental question of philosophy - and the most pointless to actually ask.Pappa wrote:Just being a living entity is weird enough (in the grand scheme of things). How odd is it to be alive and sentient in a universe of physical matter and energy?
"Why is there anything at all?".
As you said really, there never will be an answer.
Why wouldn't there be?
Can you imagine any conceivable answer to the ultimate Why?
For information on ways to help support Rationalia financially, see our funding page.
When the aliens do come, everything we once thought was cool will then make us ashamed.
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cowiz
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Re: The peculiar business of being human
42Pappa wrote:An answer?Animavore wrote:Pappa wrote:That was always my favourite philosophical question... even better when it is put so starkly...Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Even odder that there is anything at all. The most fundamental question of philosophy - and the most pointless to actually ask.Pappa wrote:Just being a living entity is weird enough (in the grand scheme of things). How odd is it to be alive and sentient in a universe of physical matter and energy?
"Why is there anything at all?".
As you said really, there never will be an answer.
Why wouldn't there be?
Can you imagine any conceivable answer to the ultimate Why?
It's a piece of piss to be cowiz, but it's not cowiz to be a piece of piss. Or something like that.
Re: The peculiar business of being human
Why not?
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
Re: The peculiar business of being human
On the serious side.
I'm with Buddha when it comes to this question.
Don't bother with the question why? It can drive a man insane. There may not be a why?
I'm with Buddha when it comes to this question.
Don't bother with the question why? It can drive a man insane. There may not be a why?
Libertarianism: The belief that out of all the terrible things governments can do, helping people is the absolute worst.
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