Life

[Cargando]

I'm not just on about the meaning of life, I'm saying how can we possibly exist? What is life itself?

Self replicating molecules. That's it. Nothing profound and magical, life just is.

No. That's what we ARE but it still doesn't explain how we can think. Molecules cannot think. We are more than just chemicals mixed together.

We are nothing more than what we are. I do not know exactly how we can think, you'd have to ask someone far more learned than I. We are indeed just chemicals mixed together.

When two elements mix, you know what the outcome will be. With thoughts this is not so, as you can think in an illogical way.

 

[Toners]

Life is like a box of chocolates...
Because whichever box you buy is absolutely chock-full of your least favourite one
Pondering the question of life has been going on for millenia, so I doubt any of us Escapists are really gonna work it out, do you? I say just get on with it and we'll find out when we die. Still, I believe most religions are wrong on the subject of afterlife, because when you think about it a lot of animals in the world behave in ways that we would say are punishable by the worse form of it. Some parents kill their children, which is a bit harsh, a lot of animals kill others for the fun of it. Now you look at that and think "well are they just gonna have a load of Heavens or related afterlives relating to each animal's moral code? are we REALLY that special, or did we just get lucky when developing brains and social structures?"
I'm not saying all religion is wrong, I just reckon most of them use the afterlife as a tool for gaining favour. After all, wouldn't you want to go to Heaven, what if it's true?
Religious rant over, back to my complete apathy on the matter ^.^
EDIT: I realise that was a bit off topic, I just had a massive train of thought as I was writing this

 

[Halceon]

Software is really there, isn't it? It can't all just be 0's and 1's, surely?

The point of life is to procreate, that logic engine in your head is just designed to make sure you do that, and do it well.

Only increasing in intellect has led us to procreate less.

Also, human life is nothing more than just biochemical processes. Your so-called soul and mind is a defined in the physical world as a specific pattern of neurons and impulses.

 

[Cargando]

Life is self replicating molecules, no purpose boys and girls we just are so let's just enjoy the ride.

Agree +1

That is logical. But to answer my question, I think it'll take more than logic.

Maybe thats why you are lost.
"The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensibile"
Einstein was a pretty smart cookie.
What is art dude? Its imitation.

Art is more than imitation. Art can be something new entirely, not something from the real world.

 

[Vrex360]

Evolution can account for complex thought. Once a creature evolves enough to think independantly it becomes curious about it's surroundings and capable of questioning the world around it, even though it is still driven by basic instinct to eat and breed and survive etc. All initial aspects of human culture can probably be traced far back to simple curiosity... how does this work? And can I use this to do this? Sort of deal.

That's my belief anyway.

 

[traceur_]

I'm not just on about the meaning of life, I'm saying how can we possibly exist? What is life itself?

Self replicating molecules. That's it. Nothing profound and magical, life just is.

No. That's what we ARE but it still doesn't explain how we can think. Molecules cannot think. We are more than just chemicals mixed together.

We are nothing more than what we are. I do not know exactly how we can think, you'd have to ask someone far more learned than I. We are indeed just chemicals mixed together.

When two elements mix, you know what the outcome will be. With thoughts this is not so, as you can think in an illogical way.

Can you provide evidence to support this claim? I do not believe that we on this forum can fathom how the mind works so continuing to debate the inner workings of that which we cannot fathom is rather pointless. Perhaps another route is possible for this discussion.

 

[Halceon]

I'm not just on about the meaning of life, I'm saying how can we possibly exist? What is life itself?

Self replicating molecules. That's it. Nothing profound and magical, life just is.

No. That's what we ARE but it still doesn't explain how we can think. Molecules cannot think. We are more than just chemicals mixed together.

We are nothing more than what we are. I do not know exactly how we can think, you'd have to ask someone far more learned than I. We are indeed just chemicals mixed together.

When two elements mix, you know what the outcome will be. With thoughts this is not so, as you can think in an illogical way.

Can you provide evidence to support this claim? I do not believe that we on this forum can fathom how the mind works so continuing to debate the inner workings of that which we cannot fathom is rather pointless. Perhaps another route is possible for this discussion.

A route is available - consult neurologists.

 

[Cargando]

Software is really there, isn't it? It can't all just be 0's and 1's, surely?

The point of life is to procreate, that logic engine in your head is just designed to make sure you do that, and do it well.

Logic is a mechanical thing, yet we are more just logic, we can create. Creation is not logical.

Yes it is, creation does not have a singular meaning. The way in which planets were created is logical.

We can think, yes? So how is it we think? We can create, so we have imagination. Imagination is the illogicality of creation that I was referring to earlier.

We cannot create. We can only manipulate that which is.

What about art?

Art is a subjective term. Paintings and sculptures are manipulations of stone and pigment. Music is manipulation of air. Dance is manipulation of the body.

I agree, but it is what you create with them that is so special. Music is illogical.

 

[Kinguendo]

To be happy, how the hell you do that is your own option. (granted I'm really failing at it right now)

Happiness is only the release of chemicals into your brain. I rule out happiness.

Yet it's so addictive, like making fun of evangelicals and atheists the extremist bible thumping and god-less dicks.

Agnosticism is the way to go, because you cant be wrong!!!!!

Jeez, and of course you can be wrong... if you arent right then you are... wrong.

Although you may need to lay down the specifics of Agnosticism, is it just "I dont know"?

Agnostism is the meeting ground between Theism and Atheism.

Here is link....

http://www.themarriedgamers.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/link-zelda-tp.jpg

And here is a link to the wikipedia page...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic

So it is just "I dont know", well I dont believe because there is no evidence. Makes sense to me and if evidence is enough of a reason to put me to death then by "God" its enough of a reason to live.

 

[Skeleon]

The meaning of life is whatever you decide to make of it.
That's all there is. Isn't that enough?

Music is illogical.

Most music is very mathematical on its basic level.

 

[Anachronism]

Life... don't talk to me about life.

Anway, there was a similar discussion to this a while back. While life is, yes, technically just a series of chemical reactions, I honestly think there's more to it than that. Human beings are not perfectly logical creatures; emotions, while arguably being a product of chemicals, cannot simply be explained away like that, in my opinion. If we operated purely as animals, as we ought, logically, to do, accepting the idea that life is just chemicals, then we should live for nothing more than to survive and to reproduce.

But I'd like to think that for most people, this is not the case. Most people live for something more than just that (well, I do anyway). People want happiness; they want friendship; above all, they want love; and I don't think that can be coldly and conveniently explained away by saying it's all down to chemical reactions. I can't explain it, but I honestly believe there's more to life than chemicals.

 

[Cargando]

Well it's just that, thought is not merely chemical reactions, that's what causes it, but thought... is something else entirely different.

 

[traceur_]

I agree, but it is what you create with them that is so special. Music is illogical.

Music is merely a rhythm of vibrations in the air. Again special is a relative term, one might think that a dancer's art is completely foolish while another may think it beautiful.

 

[space_oddity]

Art is more than imitation. Art can be something new entirely, not something from the real world.

You are preaching to the saviour here dude, no one appreciates art in all its forms more than i, but that doesnt mean it is somehow magical or supernatural.
Arranging colour or matter into a form that evokes emotional response does not constitute any greater meaning, however powerful a response it provokes.

 

[sneak_copter]

There are some questions that require centuries of contemplation by many great men. You've just asked one.

Luckily, I know the answer.

It's 42.

Correction: It's 011010100100010100101001011001010.

 

[Cargando]

I agree, but it is what you create with them that is so special. Music is illogical.

Music is merely a rhythm of vibrations in the air. Again special is a relative term, one might think that a dancer's art is completely foolish while another may think it beautiful.

No it isn't, music means things. It can carry emotions and feelings. Vibrations in the air cannot convey the beauty in music.

 

[Zangamarth]

Life is something to be lived, not to be questioned... well, OK, it should be questioned, but not to the extent that you question why live it. That's how I feel.

 

[Cargando]

Art is more than imitation. Art can be something new entirely, not something from the real world.

You are preaching to the saviour here dude, no one appreciates art in all its forms more than i, but that doesnt mean it is somehow magical or supernatural.
Arranging colour or matter into a form that evokes emotional response does not constitute any greater meaning, however powerful a response it provokes.

I use art as an example, it shows we are above logic if we can do such things as create art.

 

[Halceon]

Cargando, art does not step outside the bounds of logic. It doesn't even approach them.