How can we base our existence on thought?

Mr. Hamtastic said:
Simon has me, basically. If everything is doubted, including my own existence, then I am free to become whatever I imagine.
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This is a core question. First I would ask you: do you experience it this way? Have you moved from a period where you doubted less and when you doubted more you noticed you had more power and freedom.

The I think we have to look at this word belief.

Most people, when they think of belief, think it is something they have come to rationally. They think it is words in their minds that they notice and agree with. They often think that evidence would make them change their minds or a good argument would.

I think that is a minor subset of beliefs. I think we are much more imprinted with beliefs then we realize and that their roots go deep. I do not think they are easy to change and some time in the sciforums has shown me (again) that really people are almost never rationally persuaded. It happens, but it is damn rare.

Experience however can be effective.

But the if beliefs contrain, limit, change, control what we are and experience - which I believe - then the beliefs will prevent certain experiences from happening.

if you believe no one will ever be attracted to you and beliefs constrain reality, reality will prevent experience from changing this AND rational arguments will have little effect also. (remember how, perhaps, one of your parents explained that really you are cute or whatever and how little effect that had)

I think there is a way out of this conundrum AND to hold that beliefs literally shape reality but I think it is important to acknowledge that

1) we don't always notice what we believe
2) some beliefs are very deeply rooted

"But wait, you can't imagine if you don't exist..."
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I think you probably can and that some elderly people whose spouses die do this precisely and effectively.
 
SA-then my methodology of assuming that all things may or may not exist, to include myself, is about granting myself the power to choose my reality in spite of what others might try to impose on me?
 
I have moved from a time of believing all until proven untrue. Trusting to a ridiculous degree. I am on my way to the other end of the spectrum, and trying out a middle ground. If I act on any information as though it exists, but prepare myself for it's non-existance, then that information has little power over me. If I doubt my own existence, then I can stop worrying about how things will be in a thousand years, and simply experience the possible existence for what it is.
 
Mr. Hamtastic said:
SA-then my methodology of assuming that all things may or may not exist, to include myself, is about granting myself the power to choose my reality in spite of what others might try to impose on me?
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I could be about that, yes. An interpersonal stance and an epistemological one.
 
I swear I'll look up that word, soon... I think you and glau use it just to make me get the dictionary, though...
 
We are trying to control you. Here's a sloppy definition: the study of how one goes about finding out what is true.
 
the study of methodology?

I was hoping for some kind of shocking revelation I had come across I could write about and get rich... It's more functional than past attempts, is all I know.
 
Mr. Hamtastic said:
the study of methodology?
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methodology for arriving at the truth or knowledge or belief? You can have a methodology for getting your wife to clean the house, but that is another unopened can of tomatoes.

I was hoping for some kind of shocking revelation I had come across I could write about and get rich... It's more functional than past attempts, is all I know.
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I think you could write about your process and get rich. You are hysterical at times, profound others....

But it'll need concrete stories and events. Epistemology is not going to make you rich. At least a book on it won't.

Glaucon would be off exploring Australia right now with his entourage if such things were possible.

Of course, there I go, limiting your possibities with my beliefs.
 
That's ok, Simon, it doesn't matter anyway... I'm hopeful you exist, but you may not, which limits the limitation...

LG-I think I have some dirty socks which seem to exist... they smell existy, anyway... I could send those to you. I, sadly, don't have money popping into existence nearby. It may be due to some unknown limitation I have imposed on myself.
 
Mr. Hamtastic said:
LG-I think I have some dirty socks which seem to exist... they smell existy, anyway... I could send those to you. I, sadly, don't have money popping into existence nearby. It may be due to some unknown limitation I have imposed on myself.
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Its okay, when ever the money comes, just give it to me rather than your landlord. Distinguishing between me, the landlord, yourself or anyone else is only a trivial matter.
Don't forget, neither us nor the money actually exists.
Hell, there's no good reason why you don't eat your socks instead of shelling out for groceries too, come to think of it ....
;)
 
the mail doesn't exist, though... nor do checks... we might have problems... I'll try to have anything moneyish materialize in your presence...
 
I already am, have, and will, in another non-existance... without existance time is meaningless...
 
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