If we didn't have self-awareness, then our life would pass in a blink of time.

Are we illuded to think we exist? Is the brain fooling us?

Scientists say that self-awareness doesn't have any role. Everything we can do with self-awareness we could do without it. They say consciousness is more a consequence of order - a biproduct - than something that developed for a cause.

I think however that consciousness is the cause. Our life would have no meaning if it weren't because we were aware of it!

LIFE is the meaning of life! But if we weren't aware of it...then it would be meaningless.

Whatever the cause, and however if awareness is a bi-product or a real development, the idea that we are illuded to think we exist is interesting to me.

Could it be so, that we really are a piece of "nothing", that was nothing because it didn't believe it existed? Maybe we never were "nothing" but we believed we were and thus wasn't aware of our true nature. Or we almost became nothing...

I have a weird feeling in my stummick as I write this...a feeling of anxiety...

But it's the fear of truth, that maybe the truth isn't for our advantage, maybe I'm getting too close. Like finally meeting God and realize that he was nothing more than a idea --and so were you-- (or something to that effect).

But that (if it's true) shouldn't be a reason for anxiety, it may be a reason for joy! Ha ha, feeling much better now ;)!

If we were a idea created by God (which itself is a idea), then I doubt that He would make the idea end with nothing (allthough it might have been created from nothing).

Things that are true has arguments that can't be defeated, it is true in itself, and each part of truth is a truth which describes the truth that it is a part of.

Something tells me, that if we are aware that we exist now. Then we must allways exist, because if we don't exist after death then life would be forgotten...to us life would have never existed. You would never had existed "now" - then.

So why do I feel that you wouldn't exist "now" if you didn't exist "then"?

I realize that to other's you would have existed...and in reality you would have existed though you aren't aware of your former existance...but something tells me that awareness needs to be eternal...otherwize life would pass in a blink...

boy oh boy Cyperium, you are really into it this time.

Not much I can add except to suggest that if all amounts to nothing then nothing ain't that bad.

Philosophy, like maths is really only a construct trying to explain our existance but this in no way should diminish our existence, after all it all just a construct but a damn good one at that.

So at the end of the day just switch the computer off, open the front door of your place and go for a walk and enjoy this little piece of nothing we call life, after all it may be nothing but it's all we have. :D

Haha interesting theory. I have many that are like this but have learned it might just be better to think of life as meaningful rather than a void. Now what i believe life might be could be something so so simple that no one would possibly think of it, because of it's simplicity. lol wouldn't it be funny if the meaning of life was to live, and because we haven't furfilled this meaning then we die?

Hi Quantum Quack and Votorx:

If we think in the perspective of nothing, and in becoming something, we must then be our own everything.

Each person is then alone, in which there are no others in our minds (or in our world) but ourselves.

I think that's one of the reasons why some people feel so deeply depressed.

But while we are alone, we see others that share the same 'room' allthough it's not within our own minds (or so we think).

That's why I think we appreciate eachother so much - and also why we appreciate those who seem to share our own view.

But if we really think about it, everything you see becomes a part of you, every experiance, and thus every person. So everyone you see is sharing 'your' room since you are sharing 'his/hers' room.

So thus we build a larger room, that is bigger than ourselves, by the joining of minds (by understanding eachother). The more we share with eachother, the less empty we feel...maybe because we can build the illusion of not being alone better.

So that wasn't too comforting...still we are at the illusion part...therefor there must be something else, something that I've missed.

Intuitivly I know (or think I know) that two things becomes one when they look enough like eachother - I don't think they must look exactly the same, I think they can 'merge' into eachother, much like the visual system to form 3D.

Therefor I come to the conclusion that we will some day join, because we are all building the same illusion, a world greater than us which can hold each one inside. So with each one seeing and supporting the same illusion, we have a "truth"...at least as much as we can know by ourselves.

This far, it doesn't need a God, since the brain can fool us to believe we exist by imitating us, and we can join and create our own "heaven", but still, it is not the truth just because everyone experiances the same thing. We could as easily have buildt a fantasy world, which if you really think about it, makes it feel almost worthless, cause we need some kind of purpouse and we can't get that inside our own fairytail - that we ourselves created. Sure each person has their own mystery to be solved, but after that? It is a eternity we are talking about. In the end I think we would feel drained and empty even though we are many, and each one would know eachother so well that we would become eachother and then...what happens then?

We would be sick and tired of being part of a illusion, when we see reality we feel so glad because we see something that is real, if we only see a illusion then that illusion would eventually (even if it's the best we can do) start to loose it's meaning, and the concepts would start to fail - and be forgotten - which are also a reason for the feeling of meaninglessness, we would start to become nothing once again (sure 'nothing' isn't unpleasant, but what if we never actually get to 'nothing', that we become less and less real, having less and less power to stop us from going "nothing" - and all too aware of it).

That would even be more painful than being alone. Being real is a necessity - and is a part of being aware, but being real cannot be done without reality to look upon, if we had a fantasy then that fantasy would become us, and we would become it, because we would get so used to it.

The truth must be given to us, by God, there can be no other way, cause only God has the ability to give us a worthy existance that has purpouse and meaning - forever.

I think there is a kind of awareness field - or more like force - which can be "poured" into different "bottles" and shapes and when it is poured into a shape then it believes that it is that shape - and that it is what that shape represents. This is all analogies of course, I can't imagine how such a bottle would look like, or even what is meant by "pouring", I guess it has to do with physical structures in the brain, but there's something else too...

The bible say that each one shines with it's own light (much like the sun and the moon) - which I think are great examples, since the sun is giving light and the moon is reflecting light. This is noticable by anyone that knows alot of people, that each one gives off their own "feeling". This may be because there are different "kinds" of awareness, that one feel their awareness in one way and another in another way, but still is a part of the same feeling much like yellow and red are a part of colour. I don't think any awareness is better or worse than any else - at least not when it's fully developed.

What God's reality is like, we can see around us, cause what we see is real, it makes us real, even though this reality may be just a small room in His big house we can see it as a example of what the truth should look like.

One thing that reality teaches us, is that we can't have too much of something or too little of something, cause both makes us feel bad. Too much joy will result in too much sadness when the time comes for sadness. Each thing has it's time, if we are true to ourselves and don't exaggerate the feelings (it's easy to give a couple of more laughs than what you really felt, but we shouldn't do that, it makes us less real - and must be compensated for) then we become true, cause we do what we feel - even in bad feelings (but then we got to follow the "rules" - morals and so on), we shouldn't punch our girlfriends friend Tom which has been seen alot with her just because of jellousy, we should try to find what the jellousy is trying to tell us and then speak to her.

No feelings are bad, only what we do while having them (or as in the bible "God leaved a way out of each situation").

lol wouldn't it be funny if the meaning of life was to live, and because we haven't furfilled this meaning then we die?No, it wouldn't be so funny if we live only because we couldn't figure out why we died either :)

No, it wouldn't be so funny if we live only because we couldn't figure out why we died either :)

:confused: what?? But if we're dead how would we be living?

I agree with Quantum. If everything is nothing then maybe nothing isn't that bad.

But what happens when we merge with someone else? Do we become god ourselves?
And what happens after life has ended? What about before life begins?

I guess one could use the analogy of a game of football, where at the start of the game no one has any points on the board. So they throw and kick a little ball around with everyone watching and cheering, in an hour or so they count up the points, the winners fans cheer and every one goes home.

Some people don't like football, but it's the only game in town. So they sit there staring at the wall rather than watch or play the game. They can't understand why a silly little ball being moved from one end of the ground to another is of any worth, all they see it as futility.

Some times value is to be found in just the doing. Not for much else, just simply doing because you can, even if it's just for the sake of it and nothing else. As Votor said
wouldn't it be funny if the meaning of life was to live, and because we haven't furfilled this meaning then we die?

A game of football can be interesting and fulfilling, there are many variables, there is much talent, and also it is far better than staring at the wall.

So it's all attitude and 99% life is just that ...attitude....

If we didn't have self-awareness, then our life would pass in a blink of time.

How could it pass at all if we weren't aware of it passing? If we weren't aware of something happening somewhere, does that mean it happened in only a blink of time, or was nonexistent? If I didn't have a memory, would I not have a past?

what?? But if we're dead how would we be living?
Yesterday 02:59 PM That may be part of the question :), I don't personally think that it is the meaning of life though.

I agree with Quantum. If everything is nothing then maybe nothing isn't that bad.

But what happens when we merge with someone else? Do we become god ourselves?
And what happens after life has ended? What about before life begins?We don't become God ourselves, there can only be one God, depending how you define "God", but if God is ultimate truth then there can't be another - it would deny God itself. God don't take advise from anyone (who can be above Him?).

If we merge then both are the same - more or less, but each one are in a image of God, so to merge would since each one is a unique part of the truth create one common truth among you, so there wouldn't really be a merging, but a joining. The truth won't change because you merged with another. God has set boundaries that can't be broken - since breaking them push you away from the truth. But by merging the boundaries doesn't have to be broken. I don't think the souls can actually merge into one another, but maybe the two becomes fixated.

If there were to be such a thing as the merging of two souls then we would need God to break it - if we really had to, but I don't think it's good to do that, as God said that we shouldn't pull apart something that He put together.

But then is the question if He put them together or if there is any other way that they can be put together...

Then we have marriage. Which is to join two souls, not to merge them (or so I think). Don't know if there are such a thing as twin-souls though, I've seen some indications that there might.

But there are two contexts, the first one is the illusion, where we have such a situation and where merging would/could contribute to the feeling of being alone and meaningless (or in a danger of becoming so).

And then we have the reality-context where joining and merging may be good.

Sorry for the detailed description of merging and so on, but I just want to make sure that I'm not spreading mis-information - I've seen enough of that.

So what happened before life?

In the beginning there was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. With the word everything was created, and without the word nothing was created.

So I guess we were created using the word, and maybe we became the word - or a reflection of the word - or a messageholder for the word. The bible say that God is Alpha and Omega, that God is the beginning and the end. So our mission might be to deliver the word. Or each of us have seperate missions.

How could it pass at all if we weren't aware of it passing? If we weren't aware of something happening somewhere, does that mean it happened in only a blink of time, or was nonexistent? If I didn't have a memory, would I not have a past?My guess is that it happened in a blink of time if no one was aware of it happening, since the cause and the effect are the ones with meaning, the rest I think has to be observed to be given time. Though this may vary depending on what it is that is experiencing the time. Time without experiance is nothing, since there are a infinity of sub-moments. But then, what is experiance? And what is experiancing? Can a rock have a experiance? What has to happen before anything can experiance something? What is it in the brain that actually causes the experiance to be experianced?

So in that perspective, even a rock might have it's time. There may be different flows of time, we seem to go with a flow of time that can enable us to understand the laws. If time moved slower or faster then the laws might become meaningless...unless there are other times that fits the laws.


I have done some changes in this post, since some of the ideas were flawed (I saw that I wrote it incorrectly the last time).

Yes. I am the reason you are alive. :)

I actually think the opposite, that we'd be better off if we weren't aware. Anxiety, fear, anger, egoism, disappointment are all constructs of awareness. Think of reality beyond all of your senses, emotions, and desires - that would be reality without illusion. Just think, when you're asleep, in the state where you aren't dreaming (REM), when you're complete unaware, in that state there is no desire, fear, anger, anxiety - no illusion. That state is what I think is the closest to reality without illusion or true reality (emptyness). In the middle of the night, when you wake up and are aware again, anxiety, fear, anger, etc...all have the potential to happen once again. While in the unaware state, there is not even any pain. You may be sick or injured but while unware you don't feel it, it is only when you become aware again does the pain come back.

I'm not saying you should go to sleep your entire life, I'm just saying unwareness is far better than awareness. Also, you shouldn't let your fears control your life.

I actually think the opposite, that we'd be better off if we weren't aware. Anxiety, fear, anger, egoism, disappointment are all constructs of awareness. Think of reality beyond all of your senses, emotions, and desires - that would be reality without illusion. Just think, when you're asleep, in the state where you aren't dreaming (REM), when you're complete unaware, in that state there is no desire, fear, anger, anxiety - no illusion. That state is what I think is the closest to reality without illusion or true reality (emptyness). In the middle of the night, when you wake up and are aware again, anxiety, fear, anger, etc...all have the potential to happen once again. While in the unaware state, there is not even any pain. You may be sick or injured but while unware you don't feel it, it is only when you become aware again does the pain come back.

I'm not saying you should go to sleep your entire life, I'm just saying unwareness is far better than awareness. Also, you shouldn't let your fears control your life.Unawareness isn't better or worse than awareness, unawareness is nothing and nothing can't be compared with.

One person might be a glad person while another is constantly feeling lonely, awareness itself is not to blame.

The illusion is given to us, and we choose to become the illusion by identifying with it (by putting your soul in it, litterally).

It's like reading a book and become stuck in it, forgetting about the "outside".

If the truth is nothing, if we are nothing and are illuded that we exist then what could possibly be the meaning of that? In a way, I think we are nothing, but must become something.

We lead our body and mind towards what we feel is right. Or we lead it towards what we feel is wrong. When we do wrong it's often because it's required for the situation - even though every situation has a way out. There are no easy rules to follow, except one and that is 'do what you feel', but if we take that way, then we got to stick to it. If we only do what we feel when it's easy, then we become true only to a certain degree - and you never know what the emptiness will be filled with. It isn't easy to follow every feeling, cause each feeling comes with a "but..." and a "don't..." which creates a riddle to be solved to be able to express the feeling of each situation the best way. Without hurting others etc.

Constantly looking at what others seem to feel is not the right way, you have your own feeling, express it and it becomes true.

I used to think that if I got rid of all my problems, then I could be free to live as I wanted without having to deal with everything constantly. But I was wrong, when one problem is solved then another problem is put into place, five small problems are replaced by one big and that one big problem might have been a small problem in the past. If you get rid of all your problems, then problems will be given to you, because you have to develop. Everything is relative.

So if we have one small problem, then it's only that small in comparance to the problems surrounding it. Also there might be "small problems" in disguise which are really big problems. So I guess we got to look at what they are not how they look like. Also, we got to find if it really is a problem, it might be a good thing if used correctly - don't trust too much what others think of the problem, they may be wrong.

Don't drown yourself in problems, take one at a time. But constantly be on watch for solutions to other problems.

Some problems are made problems, some sins aren't written, these sins are written by the one having them.

The problem that you are most concerned with right now, is the biggest problem for you, and since you have all attention towards that problem the other problems seems small - that's because you will do everything to solve the big one - you're not being fooled though, there is no other way and I think that shows how ingenious God is.

The bible say that you shouldn't judge and point out others problems before you get rid of your own problem (and even then you shouldn't judge others, only give advice, what's good for you doesn't need to be good for the other one).

The bible say that even God's angels have faults, everything have a fault which are less than God. Cause there can't be anything more or less than one truth.

Maybe when we are dead we won't be able to solve our problems anymore, so take the lesson God have given you.

Unawareness isn't better or worse than awareness, unawareness is nothing and nothing can't be compared with.

One person might be a glad person while another is constantly feeling lonely, awareness itself is not to blame.

The illusion is given to us, and we choose to become the illusion by identifying with it (by putting your soul in it, litterally).

It's like reading a book and become stuck in it, forgetting about the "outside".

If the truth is nothing, if we are nothing and are illuded that we exist then what could possibly be the meaning of that? In a way, I think we are nothing, but must become something.

We lead our body and mind towards what we feel is right. Or we lead it towards what we feel is wrong. When we do wrong it's often because it's required for the situation - even though every situation has a way out. There are no easy rules to follow, except one and that is 'do what you feel', but if we take that way, then we got to stick to it. If we only do what we feel when it's easy, then we become true only to a certain degree - and you never know what the emptiness will be filled with. It isn't easy to follow every feeling, cause each feeling comes with a "but..." and a "don't..." which creates a riddle to be solved to be able to express the feeling of each situation the best way. Without hurting others etc.

Constantly looking at what others seem to feel is not the right way, you have your own feeling, express it and it becomes true.

I used to think that if I got rid of all my problems, then I could be free to live as I wanted without having to deal with everything constantly. But I was wrong, when one problem is solved then another problem is put into place, five small problems are replaced by one big and that one big problem might have been a small problem in the past. If you get rid of all your problems, then problems will be given to you, because you have to develop. Everything is relative.

So if we have one small problem, then it's only that small in comparance to the problems surrounding it. Also there might be "small problems" in disguise which are really big problems. So I guess we got to look at what they are not how they look like. Also, we got to find if it really is a problem, it might be a good thing if used correctly - don't trust too much what others think of the problem, they may be wrong.

Don't drown yourself in problems, take one at a time. But constantly be on watch for solutions to other problems.

Some problems are made problems, some sins aren't written, these sins are written by the one having them.

The problem that you are most concerned with right now, is the biggest problem for you, and since you have all attention towards that problem the other problems seems small - that's because you will do everything to solve the big one - you're not being fooled though, there is no other way and I think that shows how ingenious God is.

The bible say that you shouldn't judge and point out others problems before you get rid of your own problem (and even then you shouldn't judge others, only give advice, what's good for you doesn't need to be good for the other one).

The bible say that even God's angels have faults, everything have a fault which are less than God. Cause there can't be anything more or less than one truth.

Maybe when we are dead we won't be able to solve our problems anymore, so take the lesson God have given you.

You don't understand, if you're unaware then there's no possible chance that you will feel lonely since that emotion only exists while aware (lonliness is fueled by desire). Awareness itself isn't to blame, the illusion while aware is. The truth isn't nothing, it's just nothing within the illusion range (physical, emotion, desire). While aware, your desires may tell you that you don't want to be unaware because of things you want to do while aware. But when completely unaware, there is no evil nor good, no stress, no emotion, it's basically "empty" yet it's one of the most peaceful states that exist. Unwareness is reality without illusion.

Usually, the best action is the one that affects the least amount of people in a negative way. But most people already know which action is "right" or "wrong", they just have trouble doing the "right" action. A "problem" is subjective. For instance, if it's snowing that may be good to me, and a "problem" for someone else. Your problems are fueled by your desires, no desires, no problems. For instance, if I'm hungry, and I desire food, then I'm in some type of state where that desire controls me. If I don't get the food, more pain and suffering occurs, but if I do get the food the desire is dissolved and a moment of peace comes, until a new desire emerges. This type of desire is natural, but a good example of what I'm trying to say.

So basically, to solve your problems, don't have problems. Only desire the necessities of life, peace and eventually reach a state where you have no problems. It works kind of like - Natural Needs -> Desire -> Problems -> Suffering. That suffering is usually disappointment, stress, unhappiness, etc.. A problem cannot exist without desire. So when your desire is met (or happens), the desire at the sametime is gone (eliminating the problems and suffering). Basically, The desire DOES NOT lead to happiness, ELIMINATING the desire does. Natural wants are suppose to occur, but when one becomes greedy, a desire is formed. However, if one's natural needs aren't met, then suffering immidiately occurs. These natural needs are simply based on getting what the body needs to live. Also, truths can simontaneously exist. The absolute truth is probably the one truth which everything is based on (like a rule that can be applied to EVERYthing).

Whatever you believe, come up with your own conclusions. I am not forcing you to believe anything. I simply ask that you listen, and then believe in what you choose.

Hey the Matrix was just a movie!!.

Really!!

What kind of rhetoric is "better to be un-aware" Man!! this kind of crap is cool for sci-fi movies not for reality.

It is through (awarness) that human development has moved forward and we have this medium to communicate. Dreams are only dreams I suppose VitalOne has never had a "nightmare" were fears are felt as real, and reacuring nightmares can kill.

Existence exists this is an axiom, existence is not an illusion, we are aware of existence we have a consciousness and objective sensations to interpret our own reality, and try and comprehend existence.

Anyhow I found this cool website, I was about to start a new thread for it, but it fits here very well.

http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/matrix.html

Godless.

Hey the Matrix was just a movie!!.

Really!!

What kind of rhetoric is "better to be un-aware" Man!! this kind of crap is cool for sci-fi movies not for reality.

It is through (awarness) that human development has moved forward and we have this medium to communicate. Dreams are only dreams I suppose VitalOne has never had a "nightmare" were fears are felt as real, and reacuring nightmares can kill.

Existence exists this is an axiom, existence is not an illusion, we are aware of existence we have a consciousness and objective sensations to interpret our own reality, and try and comprehend existence.

Anyhow I found this cool website, I was about to start a new thread for it, but it fits here very well.

http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/matrix.html

Godless.

Man are you ignorant. First of all we do not have objective sensations (only a complete idiot would state that). Sensations depend on the observer. If a dream were permanent until death, is it a dream?

Define real. Isn't the point of moving forward in human development to get peace/happiness? So why not skip that whole process, and just get the peace/happiness?

It is a fact that physical reality is an illusion because an illusion is something that appears to be something, when it's really something else. Physical reality is just electrical signals in our brain, they appear to be much more.

You always argue by insulting the other person instead of using facts because you CAN'T use facts against the other person. You'd rather insult and be igorant. I'm sure you'll respond with something insulting as usual that has no science in it at all.

You don't understand, if you're unaware then there's no possible chance that you will feel lonely since that emotion only exists while aware (lonliness is fueled by desire). Awareness itself isn't to blame, the illusion while aware is. The truth isn't nothing, it's just nothing within the illusion range (physical, emotion, desire). While aware, your desires may tell you that you don't want to be unaware because of things you want to do while aware. But when completely unaware, there is no evil nor good, no stress, no emotion, it's basically "empty" yet it's one of the most peaceful states that exist. Unwareness is reality without illusion.

Usually, the best action is the one that affects the least amount of people in a negative way. But most people already know which action is "right" or "wrong", they just have trouble doing the "right" action. A "problem" is subjective. For instance, if it's snowing that may be good to me, and a "problem" for someone else. Your problems are fueled by your desires, no desires, no problems. For instance, if I'm hungry, and I desire food, then I'm in some type of state where that desire controls me. If I don't get the food, more pain and suffering occurs, but if I do get the food the desire is dissolved and a moment of peace comes, until a new desire emerges. This type of desire is natural, but a good example of what I'm trying to say.

So basically, to solve your problems, don't have problems. Only desire the necessities of life, peace and eventually reach a state where you have no problems. It works kind of like - Natural Needs -> Desire -> Problems -> Suffering. That suffering is usually disappointment, stress, unhappiness, etc.. A problem cannot exist without desire. So when your desire is met (or happens), the desire at the sametime is gone (eliminating the problems and suffering). Basically, The desire DOES NOT lead to happiness, ELIMINATING the desire does. Natural wants are suppose to occur, but when one becomes greedy, a desire is formed. However, if one's natural needs aren't met, then suffering immidiately occurs. These natural needs are simply based on getting what the body needs to live. Also, truths can simontaneously exist. The absolute truth is probably the one truth which everything is based on (like a rule that can be applied to EVERYthing).

Whatever you believe, come up with your own conclusions. I am not forcing you to believe anything. I simply ask that you listen, and then believe in what you choose.I know what you mean, so it's not that I don't understand you.

I can understand that you long for emptiness (no desire, no pain).

And I don't have any real arguments against it only that I feel it's not the right way...for me, maybe it is for you? Unawareness isn't emptiness though, unawareness (to me) is non-existance, you won't feel peace, you won't feel anything, you won't be anything. What about if there is a heaven and you had a role to fill, and the consequences will be suffering for someone else (someone that can actually feel it)?

What if nothing really doesn't exist, that you fade away neverendingly into a vast void, loosing more and more existance, but never seize to exist and are aware of it the whole time endlessly...the worst suffering imaginable to me, why not strive for something real and existing?

I may be wrong, but I must say what I have to say, I hope you know what to do.


(and the illusion is not to blame either, who is then? Who can it be? Or better, what can you do? nothing?)

Cyperium wrote:
Are we illuded to think we exist? Is the brain fooling us?
Hi Cyperium,
In book X of the De Trinitate, St. Augustine made this concise observation:

"Si fallor, sum."

Which is to say, "In order to be deceived, one must first exist." Descartes, having been taught by the Jesuits, almost certainly had heard of this before he wrote his Meditations on First Philosophy. The famous quote attributed to Descartes can be recast as:

"Dubito, ergo sum."

If (to use a well-known example) your perception of life is the dream of a brain floating in laboratory vat, then you are the dream of a brain floating in a labaratory vat; but it doesn't follow that you are nothing. You are whatever you think you are. The contemporary British philosopher, Roger Scruton, writing in his Modern Philosophy said as much:

"The self is the place where doubt expires; it is the one absolutely certain thing; it is also metaphysically distinct from everything else over which my beliefs may range."

Science, for example, cannot tell us what the external world is; it can only tell us what the world seems like. But your first-person perspective places you in exactly the right place to say what your world really is.

I can imagine a world without me, but I cannot imagine a me without me. The self is the center of my hodological universe.

Regards,
Michael

Cyperium wrote:

Hi Cyperium,
In book X of the De Trinitate, St. Augustine made this concise observation:

"Si fallor, sum."

Which is to say, "In order to be deceived, one must first exist." Descartes, having been taught by the Jesuits, almost certainly had heard of this before he wrote his Meditations on First Philosophy. The famous quote attributed to Descartes can be recast as:

"Dubito, ergo sum."

If (to use a well-known example) your perception of life is the dream of a brain floating in laboratory vat, then you are the dream of a brain floating in a labaratory vat; but it doesn't follow that you are nothing. You are whatever you think you are. The contemporary British philosopher, Roger Scruton, writing in his Modern Philosophy said as much:

"The self is the place where doubt expires; it is the one absolutely certain thing; it is also metaphysically distinct from everything else over which my beliefs may range."

Science, for example, cannot tell us what the external world is; it can only tell us what the world seems like. But your first-person perspective places you in exactly the right place to say what your world really is.

I can imagine a world without me, but I cannot imagine a me without me. The self is the center of my hodological universe.

Regards,
MichaelI see, but something tells me that we were brought into existance really slowly, like God tried to get us used to the idea of existing. We might have existed before, but maybe in a frozen state, where we didn't know much more than that we existed, we weren't aware, but still we were...somehow, but unaware of our awareness...? I guess we didn't realize it until we were aware though. Sorry if there are alot of contradictions...

Think of a hologram, it floats in the air, if you were to move it you couldn't just swing your hand against it, your hand would go right through. But if you moved your hand really, really slowly against it then it would follow - it has to get used to the movement.

This may not be the case of real holograms, but the hologram is a great analogy of showing something between existance - like mental.