How do I know I Exist?

[cyxz]

You exist because others percieve your existence , you are a social being that exists because he can be seen heard touched etc. by other people ,if you were alone , and no one else existed you could not prove that you exist , if you can use one of your senses to comprehend the existence of something that means the object/person is real (and don't give me the air example , air exists but we can't see smell touch taste or hear it , it's existence is sustained by the fact that we are alive , and it can be chemically analized ) , you can't aknowledge the existence of something that is not real and palpable , scientifically speaking of course , no "God" flaming please .

 

[Cry Wolf]

Ask yourself this question, and then answer.

I have to deliver a presentation that has me "prove that I DON'T know I exist" and can simply not figure out how to go about doing this. Its pretty damn hard to prove you don't know something like that!
Wonder if anyone here knows about TOK...

You're trying to prove to others that you do not exist, rather than yourself, regardless of the actual assignment question. Descartes' much recited phrase 'Cogito Ergo Sum' only proves to the thinker that he exists. His problem is discerning whether everything external exists, as the senses are fallible - ala The Matrix.

Thus, you argue with the class. How do they know you exist? How can they trust their senses? How do they know you think? This path will require you to be quick witted and well versed in the musings of a plethora of famous philosophers.

The other option has been stated before. Don't turn up, and have a friend simple ask "Who?" when the roll is called. However, this really depends on your philosophy teacher as I've known those who'd fail you for such an action, or given you top marks.

 

[lizabeth19]

I'm sorry if this is insulting your intelligence, but you have heard of Rene Descartes, right?

Yeah, great stuff, and that is the problem. Thats a solid idea Descartes had! and I have to PROVE that I DON'T know I exist for the presentation. How the fuck?

You're a figment of someone else's imagination or story, and every single action you take, down to your breath, is predetermined b that other person?

 

[TheXRatedDodo]

I'm in grade 9 (young, I know) And yikes, will we really be learning this kind of thing? It seems to me more like an infinite loop of questions that get you nowhere. The more you find out, the more questions you have, thus the more things you need to find out.

In the end, the only thing you learn is that you are even more ignorant then you thought you were.

Pretty much. Knowledge drove me pretty insane to the point where I found myself in an infinite loop of self-analysis to the point where I was so depressed I was fundamentally dead inside.

They say knowledge is a burden. They were right.

The last few years I have spent basically re-programming myself into a slightly more blissfully ignorant state.
I am of the belief that while maybe one day we may find "all the answers" (if such a thing exists, which I don't particularly believe does,) it's probably best to not know them.

 

[Ledan]

IB?
Well.... you can't prove that you don't exist. Cogito Ergo sum, as descartes said. If you are thinking about whether or not you are thinking, you must bet thinking. Therefore you can't doubt that you are thinking. If you are thinking, you are doing something, therefore you exist.

Edit: oh! Just read the reply a bit above. Yeah i would agree with that, you don't have to prove to yourself that you don't exist, you just have to prove to your class that you don't exist.
While not showing up is funny, it won't give you a chance to disprove yourself. Argue about their sense of sight and hearing, and DONT LET THEM TOUCH YOU. Since this touch is apparently how you reality-test things.

 

[dj_8612]

If you have the capacity to doubt your own existence then that is proof that you are self aware and therefore must exist. However this hyperbolic doubt does become circular because as soon as you convince yourself that you do exist then you can immediately claim that you are no longer totally self aware because you believe something with certainty.

Philosophy degree answer

 

[Ganthrinor]

I think that I think, therefore I think that I am. I think.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Ask yourself this question, and then answer.

I have to deliver a presentation that has me "prove that I DON'T know I exist" and can simply not figure out how to go about doing this. Its pretty damn hard to prove you don't know something like that!
Wonder if anyone here knows about TOK...

I see you do the IB. Anyway, the answer is, when they ask you to prove that you don't know if you exist, you just say "Who?"

 

[Subbies]

Go for the ego. If the ego, therefor you, is but an illusion created by your brain/body to facilitate their (the cells that compose the brain/body) survival it would mean that you don't exist. in reality you are the emergent form of the messages sent from cell to cell and that the 'real you' is actually each individual cell, their role in the body and the messages they send.

 

[Kinguendo]

Because you can question your existence.

 

[CarlMin]

It's called solipsism, mate.

 

[tahrey]

Hmm. Has anyone had this one yet?

Do you enjoy an occasional alcoholic tipple? If so ... bibendum ergo sum.

 

[King Toasty]

I'm sorry if this is insulting your intelligence, but you have heard of Rene Descartes, right?

He'd better have, though I doubt it. Probably heard, "I think therefor I am" though, everybody has. He just doesn't get what it means.

They should teach Philosophy better is schools, so we don't have people asking this stuff. D:<

Captcha: offeader elighten. Deeeeeeep.

I take it your school favoured Philosophy over English classes then.Seeing as you spelt therefore wrong and you put is instead of in.That came off as vaguely insulting which I didn't really mean it to be sorry about that.Also I don't think having philosophy has a bigger part of the curriculum would be a particularly good thing as it would just take time away from over more piratical subjects like maths and English that sort of thing.

Surprisingly, it CAN be spelled either way. I'm Canadian, so I'm guessing that's the difference. And if you're going to criticize someone for their English, don't say, "piratical" subjects. I'm assuming you mean practical, and if you do, you're an idiot. Philosophy is a very practical subject, and I doubt you know what it is.

 

[Queen Michael]

I'm sorry if this is insulting your intelligence, but you have heard of Rene Descartes, right?

Yeah, great stuff, and that is the problem. Thats a solid idea Descartes had! and I have to PROVE that I DON'T know I exist for the presentation. How the fuck?

Get an official-looking piece of paper saying "[YOUR NAME] has an I.Q. of 3. He's too stupid to know that he exists."

 

[Griffolion]

The concept of existing is a human one, the answer to such a question is a boolean response, true or false, also a human concept. Do i exist? Yes. I am human.

Captcha: oldingi patriotic - Yes Lord Inglip, he was a true patriot.

 

[Leemaster777]

Okay kids, it's time for Leemaster's Existential Kids Corner! (cookie for reference)

I choose to believe we measure our own existence by seeing how it effects the world around us.

Whether it be for good or ill, we all try to leave our mark on those around us. Why do you think so many people do things to try and be remembered? Simple, if we are remembered, even if we are gone, it proves we existed.

To go off on a small tangent, I feel that Heavenly Sword had a really great existential crisis at the end of it, right before the final boss fight. Don't want to spoil it for those who haven't played it, but it's probably my favorite part of that game.

 

[thelonewolf266]

I'm sorry if this is insulting your intelligence, but you have heard of Rene Descartes, right?

He'd better have, though I doubt it. Probably heard, "I think therefor I am" though, everybody has. He just doesn't get what it means.

They should teach Philosophy better is schools, so we don't have people asking this stuff. D:<

Captcha: offeader elighten. Deeeeeeep.

I take it your school favoured Philosophy over English classes then.Seeing as you spelt therefore wrong and you put is instead of in.That came off as vaguely insulting which I didn't really mean it to be sorry about that.Also I don't think having philosophy has a bigger part of the curriculum would be a particularly good thing as it would just take time away from over more piratical subjects like maths and English that sort of thing.

Surprisingly, it CAN be spelled either way. I'm Canadian, so I'm guessing that's the difference. And if you're going to criticize someone for their English, don't say, "piratical" subjects. I'm assuming you mean practical, and if you do, you're an idiot. Philosophy is a very practical subject, and I doubt you know what it is.

I agree you are right about the misspelling of practical I believe I auto corrected it to the wrong word by accident after I mistyped it.I do know what philosophy is and in my opinion being able to read,write and do at least simple maths trumps knowing about philosophy.The fact is a lot of people don't have these simple skills and without them they have very limited options for things like jobs and for instance learning about philosophy as it would be much harder to do that if you couldn't read or write.

 

[Duskwaith]

"I think therefore i am"