Why do we exist?

[marcc]

Now, seriously, what are the chances of us re-existing if all of everything stopped existing? 1 in infinity. Undefined, in other words. But, I don't believe in coincidences. You see, the brain is amazing at predicting. Eons away at current technological advance, even if 100 years from now, will result in roughly 20,000 at current speeds (Google this). But, the brain calculates all outcomes of everything; this isn't a physical property of the brain; more like a ghost-in-the-machine idea. But why do we exist?

[Oneironaut Zero]

If you are talking in terms of "purpose," then I don't think there is a reason to why we exist. I think we just exist, just like I think there are probably untold numbers of beings that are much like us, out somewhere in the cosmos. I don't think we are as unique as many of us would like to think. And if everything (as in the entire universe) were to stop, and restart within a certain degree of similarity, I think it's pretty much a given that we (maybe not in our exact state, but close) would be re-created.

[Invader]

Why do we exist... Well, we are conscious beings, and as such I'm inclined to believe that we are here to generate positive experiences (positive meaning that it does not directly effect another being in a harmful manner) that we can grow from. Individuals enjoy different things so that collectively we cover a large scope of different possible experiences. Throughout the vastness of the cosmos there may exist millions of other entire civilizations not unlike our own, with the similar consciousness and means of experiencing their surroundings to cover an even wider scope of possibility. Saying that "positive experience" is our purpose leaves it widely open to individual interpretation, which is what I love about it. I might have a passion for crafting things with my hands, and you may have a passion for astronomy, and that for us will be our own purpose save for the time we develop a greater love for something else.

[Universal Mind]

But why do we exist? Because something has to. Nonexistence is impossible.

[marcc]

Because something has to. Nonexistence is impossible. When was this established? Nonexistence is relative to existence, because if one didn't exist, the other wouldn't.

[Universal Mind]

When was this established? Nonexistence is relative to existence, because if one didn't exist, the other wouldn't. If nonexistence exists, then how is it nonexistence?

[Oneironaut Zero]

If nonexistence exists, then how is it nonexistence? Aren't you atheist? Being so, that just blew my mind.

[WakataDreamer]

Because God wanted to create beings for himself to preside over. Based on Christian doctrine, we have no intrinsic purpose other than to worship God and to provide for the common good of humanity so that humanity may enjoy its existence on this Earth. But then again, also according to Christian doctrine we don't need much of a purpose, because our time on this Earth is but a fleeting time-passer before our ascension to Heaven or descension to Hell. It's just a sort of time-killer before we go to wherever we are destined to spend the rest of eternity. So don't worry about trying to find a purpose for it. Just enjoy it while it lasts, and do anything necessary to ensure that you will make it into Heaven after you die. Of course, this doesn't apply to atheists, but that's the way I see it as a Christian. And people of other religions, just take my idea but modify it to fit your religion. The basic idea of Earth as but a halfway-step before we go to Pradise/Hell/Purgatory/Hades/Nirvana/whatever you want to call it is a common theme of most religions. Except for some who believe in reincarnation. In which case I guess there had better be a purpose, because you're doomed to spend eternity and your entire existence on this Earth, being brought back to life on it as a different being every time you die, so there had better be a fucking purpose to it.

[Inside This Fantasy]

If nonexistence exists, then how is it nonexistence? Nonexistence is state of existence. Your state always exists, even if you don't. If there are 0 apples, there is still a number of apples. If you don't exist, you still have a state of existence, it is just nonexistent. As for why we exist, I am close in opinion to Oneironaut. We exist only because our ancestors were strong enough to pass on their genes before dieing. We don't have a real purpose. The closest thing we have to a purpose is just to reproduce.

[AirRick101]

when you say "why," you automatically imply a higher being who overlooks everything the universe....hence, God. you need to clarify your religious beliefs before asking the "why" question. otherwise, you should concentrate on "how," which is what most scientists/atheists concentrate on.

[really]

There is no "why" because there is no "cause" for everything (or existence). Could a cause be outside of everything? Could a raindrop form before a cloud or "cause" a cloud to form? Existence is Divine. Nonexistence is state of existence. Your state always exists, even if you don't. If there are 0 apples, there is still a number of apples. If you don't exist, you still have a state of existence, it is just nonexistent. It's really just an arbitrary dualistic concept. There is actually no possible state in non-existence, for a state would imply existence. As UM said, non-existence is merely impossible.

[Inside This Fantasy]

There is actually no possible state in non-existence, for a state would imply existence. As UM said, non-existence is merely impossible. I don't see how non-existence is impossible. I don't have a brother. Therefore my brother does not exist. I don't see how non-existence makes him now exist.

[marcc]

First of all, let me say this: I'm not looking for a higher 'spiritual understanding.' I'm asking why (do we?) exist. What are the pros and cons to anything, in general. Generalized the benefit of the idea of something, when compared to nothing. I.e., for us existing, we have the idea of existence and non-existence. What I'm saying, is, us existing makes it possible to understand non-existence, which would have been our existence. And yes, 0 apples means there's no/there are apples. Existence to non-existence. Another way to put this, is imagine the curve of this line on a graph, supposing we hid the x and y axes, then you'd assume it was existing.

[Taosaur]

Our existence is the recursive refraction of undifferentiated Being gazing endlessly into itself. Nothing's happening any particular way, but every way at once.

[Xei]

In terms of this reality alone, we exist because a chain of events led to our existence. As to why the chain of events itself, or 'reality' (that is to say, the totality of space and time) exists, though; well, you have to ask yourself what the question 'why?' means. The question 'why X?' means, 'what relevant chain of events before event X caused event X to occur'? The problem is, you are asking this of the whole of time. There is no event 'before' time, evidently, so the question is actually undefined.

[Universal Mind]

Aren't you atheist? Being so, that just blew my mind. Maybe God is nonexistence. Belief in that could unify atheists and theists. Nonexistence is state of existence. Your state always exists, even if you don't. If there are 0 apples, there is still a number of apples. If you don't exist, you still have a state of existence, it is just nonexistent. I would have to exist in some dimensional aspect (having lived before, etc.) to have a such a status. If I never existed or will exist at all, I don't have a status because there is no I. Applying language to the situation presents the illusion that I do. I would have to exist (somehow) to have a metaphysical status. Otherwise, what exactly has the status? 0 is a number, but it would not apply to apples if apples had no form of existence. There is a difference between absence and true nonexistence. To tell you the truth, I am just playing around with the idea. I haven't made up my mind on it even though I have been trying to for twenty years. I tend to agree with you in an unsure and confused sort of way, but I think there are a lot of ideas to explore on this issue. Putting a word on a principle that is defined by its lack of existence and trying to analye the depths of what the word means creates some bizarre semantic clusterfucks. I love it. http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...xistence+exist

[Mes Tarrant]

The whole existence/nonexistence thing.. I think it's just a flaw in our language, nothing bigger than that. Maybe God is nonexistence. Belief in that could unify atheists and theists. ... Hmmmmm!

[Taosaur]

The whole existence/nonexistence thing.. I think it's just a flaw in our language, nothing bigger than that. Heh, language (not just words, but your complete symbol set) is the average person's operating system for reality; most people take it as synonymous with reality, ignoring even the biases of our form and senses, much less the simultaneously existent/nonexistent unity/void underlying it all. Just sayin.

[really]

I don't see how non-existence is impossible. I don't have a brother. Therefore my brother does not exist. I don't see how non-existence makes him now exist. That doesn't mean that you now have a brother, it means that "your brother" is a non-existent reality. Both "my brother does not exist" and "non-existence" are equally invalid and imaginary. It is not that a brother does not exist, but that you are looking at a hypothetical frame of reference for an argument against reality. The only validity is in existence, and therefore in what is real and already valid. All the things we have thought and done did not become "non-existence", but simply transformed into a different aspect of reality in this moment. Nothing can become non-existence. The only possibility is to transform.

[Jorge]

We Exist because we chose to experience Life.

[Mes Tarrant]

Heh, language (not just words, but your complete symbol set) is the average person's operating system for reality; most people take it as synonymous with reality, ignoring even the biases of our form and senses, much less the simultaneously existent/nonexistent unity/void underlying it all. Just sayin. I think I agree with that..

[Man of Shred]

we exist to live life...

[O'nus]

But why do we exist? Life is an onus, a burden of responsibility. There is no objective reason to exist. There is no undeniable truth that dictates your purpose in life. The reasons, the truths, the justifications, the why's, the how's, everything - is all up to you. What you see and what you feel, why you live, what your purpose is, is not for something else to decide or dictate. This stems from our natural instinct to categorise ourselves to better understand our suit in nature. However, the bottom line is that there is none. You have choices. Sanction eudaimonia. ~

[Unelias]

But, I don't believe in coincidences. Which I find quite weird. We have no greater purpose in our existence. We just float in the space untill we perish. You construct your own meaning for life, there is no universal answer. For me it is just to hang out untill my body and brain can't keep on going. Meanwhile, I will try to enjoy my ride.

[InvisibleMan]

God is a mind disease. Don't let yourself be fooled and think he made us. He doesn't exist.