A potentially funky perspective

wesmorris

wesmorris

Nerd Overlord - we(s):1 of N
Valued Senior Member
I wrote this as an intro to a microtheme:

"The core of human existence lies in the infinitesimal breach between the past and the future: the present. It is the aperture through which we experience ourselves and the world that surrounds us. Initially this perspective in time might be naively inclined to view the past and future with equivalence. However, we're faced with unavoidable evidence to the contrary. We discover that time is irreversible and the future is uncertain. But knowledge of future events is imperative to survival. If you don't know to dodge a boulder falling down a cliff, you don't survive. So how do we know what's coming? Our minds offer an interesting solution to this problem. Given the propensity for thought and memory, a cycle ensues. Thought and memory merge to analyze experience and mold our expectations of the future. In turn we're inspired to investigate our surroundings i.e. "Hmm, that boulder killed Fred, I better watch out for that kind of thing." This instinctive probing of reality - driven by the instinct for survival - is the catalyst for the technological advancement of the human race."

I realize it's sort of techno, but I believe it ultimately is a statement of philosophy. Maybe it's a statement of total BS? What do you think?
 
That's an interesting way to see it. What do you suppose the other animals think about the future?
 
Actually, I don't think too many other animals really ponder the future.... but some do... actually I'm probably mis-speaking. What I think is something like this: The "amount" or "level" of consciousness of a particular animal (and possibly insect) is directly proportional to the amount of time they can be contemplating at any given time. Maybe the "amount" of time that the being can be conscious of at any time.

I know that might sound a little flaky, but it takes a long time to explain exactly what I'm getting at.
 
The "amount" or "level" of consciousness of a particular animal (and possibly insect)
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an insect is an animal.

Another interesting philosophical viewpoint (which is kind of relevant anyway) is that the future is already totally predetermined by the past. IE, lets say you one time burned your hand on a hot plate. When confronted with a hot plate in the future your either going to not touch it or use something to protect yourself. Lets say that something in your past (not to be vague, but to preserve attention to the point of this post) makes you choose to not touch it at all, so as to not even risk the burn. This may be a lame example, but i think you can all see where i'm coming from. The events of your past influence the decisions of your future. Therefore, who you will be and what you will do is in some ways already set in stone.
 
... or, you're drunk and touch it without adequate protection: thus,
history repeats itself!

:p
 
Damn me and my boring assed threads. Hehe, does the thing make sense? Does is just sound stupid? Unremarkable? Just weird? Argh.. neeed... feeeeeeeeeeedback. *collapses*

:m:
:bugeye:
 
I found it interesting that for weeks after I accidentally conked my cat with the milk carton he wouldn’t go near his dish while I was pouring. I didn’t think his memory was up to it.

I’d say another catalyst for the technological advancement is entertainment. Having used technology like spears to become top dogs on the food chain, we have the free time to continue advancing for enjoyment’s sake. Weapons research involves both the instinct for survival and the entertainment derived from pushing the envelope.

Oh and: makes sense, not weird.
 
Therefore, who you will be and what you will do is in some ways already set in stone.
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Interesting idea. All has been pre-determined by the original movement that sprung from nothingness.
 
Either everything is a machine, including the thoughts you are having right now, or we are the ghost in the machine, the one and only source of input... We definately affect our surroundings, but is this a result of our surroundings affecting us?
 
Sometimes I earnestly think it doesn't matter.. or maybe it's both.. neither?

Shit, at the moment it seems to me that we are the machine. I believe the universe is us, and that is also existed before us. I believe we became part of it when we were born, but it existed before that. So we are the ghosts that become the machine? Shit.

*shrug*
 
Do you mean we are part of the machine, and yet we have become self aware... So ghosts born of the machine? A fresh perspective.... Hmmm.... Now you got me thinking...
 
Originally posted by spookz
coolness!
now that you all are sufficiently dazed and confused.......

you will obey spookz!
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you know a sick part of me always loves seeing an evil plan come to fruition. you really should throw in an evil laugh though or the whole thing really isn't worth it.
 
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