Thursday, February 24, 2011

"Do you really exist?" --- A few philosophical thoughts

EXISTENCE
Possibly the prime argument that we exist is that we are here, wherever here may be supposed to be, and that by reasoning that, if we are able to consider our own existence, weighing up the various influencing factors, then we must, ipso facto exist. This argument, in itself, must surely be based only upon the surmise that we are in fact here and considering the case for existence at all. In the first instance I say possibly because of course, if we cannot prove for the argument that we do indeed exist then, by the same mode of reasoning, we are thereby unable to consider that we do even exist at all. To simply make a statement, supposedly of fact, that "I reason, I am, therefore I exist”, must surely be flawed in the extreme, particularly when we ask the question, "In whose opinion do I exist". Even presupposing that I do exist in someone's opinion, as opinion is considered to be an intangible in that it cannot be seen or touched or even experienced other than by the person who claims it as their own, is it not therefore something that should be viewed, metaphorically speaking of course, since it cannot be visually seen, with the utmost distrust. Should we only be prepared to consider it's existence once we have proved beyond doubt that the person who claims to hold such opinion does in fact exist themselves. This brings us back to the original consideration whereby we can only surmise that we exist because we reason that we do. This, in itself, cannot be considered proof of existence.

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