Political Crossfire Forums

[Saf]

There is no pupose to existence. Life is a complicated biochemical reaction that boils down to being little different than the life of a star. Self-consciousness gives us the ability to make meaningful choices and put meaning into our lives, however. The net sum of all energy and matter in every combination possible will exist an infinite number of times; this is modern physics supporting Nietzsche's idea of the eternal recurrence and, in a way, the concept of reincarnation.

[Fido]

Quote: [quote="Cato"] Quote: Simply put, the purpose of existence is life.

I don't know if you realize, but this is logically circular. 'Why existence? Existence,' is essentially what you're saying, which really isn't saying much. It's much like asking, 'why is the sky blue?' and being answered, 'because it's blue.'

Not so. Existence and life are not the same thing, exactly. From the point of view of life, existence is either the infinite aspects of life, or the finite whole of ones own existence. If we consider existence beside life, existence is shared, and life is lived individually, or, existence is general, and life is specific. Existence is life times time. Humanity exists, and people live. So it is like asking why the sky is blue, and answering that it is blue because people can see it. I think it is quite possible to answer that the purpose of existence is the continuance of life, because if the specific example of existence fails the whole train of existence disappears. It is not the answer that is circular, but life which is cyclical

Quote: To take a cue from Aristotle, the purpose of 'thought' is to achieve the contemplative life, which is the most happy life.

This is like saying the purpose of thought is thought all the time. Thought has a purely practical purpose of design in our lives, and the avoidance of pain or danger. Thought is prescient.