The text delves into profound metaphysical inquiries, discussing whether the world truly exists and what constitutes necessity and possibility. It references Thomas Aquinas' Argument from Necessity, which suggests that for something to be necessary, it must be universally applicable across all possible worlds.
Existence and consciousness- the concept that individuals are either the precievers or the ones being percieved as a result of the conscious not being able to form without existence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIdPo-soklY
This video questions that the universe could have a conscious of it's own that would determine life and even without the conscious life would still occur as a result of evolution. this is a theory known as Panpsychism.
Determinism- the idea that every action, event and decision made by an individual conscious is predetermined by an unbroken chain of past occurrences
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35650616
this article explains the Caste system in India as established in
Manusmriti. It explains that people are born into a certain status in life, this determines what occupation they will be allowed to work and who they will be allowed to interact with.
What is the meaning of life?
Religion and spirituality- the idea that there is at least one divine being that plays a key role in existence and guides individuals
https://www.psypost.org/2018/08/people-who-are-socially-disconnected-turn-to-religion-to-restore-a-sense-of-purpose-to-their-lives-52082 This article explains that having religious beliefs can make people with less social interaction feel that they still have a purpose in life as they are serving and growing in a relationship with God
Identity and change- the idea that things cannot exist without an identity and for something reality to change an effect must occur
https://malala.org/malalas-story this link provides the story of the young girl Malala who was at one point a helpless young girl but was then shot for going against her countries beliefs this sparked a change in her that gave her empowerment and a purpose of protecting the vulnerable in life
Does the world really exist?
cosmogony- the study of how the universe was created and the theory of how it continues to be
https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/big-questions/how-did-universe-originate-and-evolve-produce-galaxies-stars-and-planets-we-see-today
This is an article from NASA explaining how it was scientifically possible for the Earth to come into existence.
Does God exist?
Necessity- it is God is necessary as a creator for if existence was not possible for nothing exist then nothing could ever come into existence
the first Ontological Argument made by the philosopher Anselm explains; God's existence is real as he is not a contingent being his existence is not dependent on anyone but himself, where as human existence will always be contingent as it is dependent on the parents of the offspring.
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/
Cosmology- The idea that the world was created and brought to life as a notion of deity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t60MBskbNuc
In this Fox News interview with Eric Metaxas, author of the book Miracles; he explains that it is more likely for a divine being to have created this perfectly fit world, that can sustain life rather than to try to find an obscure scientific solution to the question.
religion and spirituality- the concept that a divine being is directly engaged with the world whether as one single God or multiple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eTKh7xM7DQ
In this interview, a mother and her son describe their experience for God at a time when they were doubting his existence. After dying and coming back to life three separate times after a car accident, the son takes about his experience with going to heaven and he describes things that would have been possible for him to know otherwise.
Does anything actually matter?
Mind and matter- the concept that despite the mind not being physical it can still effect the physical world or that people could be dualistic and live on separate from their physical selves.
The theory of dualism refined by René Descartes explains that the physical and psychological self are two separate entities meaning they may be associated but are not dependent on the other. This means that after the physical self dies the psychological self can survive. For anyone who believes in the afterlife that means their soul would find a new destination based on their actions while their physical body was still alive.
https://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_dualism.html
Religion and spirituality- the idea that there is a God in which began existence for a purpose
When looked at specifically from the Catholic religion, there are several stories explaining why each and every individual matters. Take the parable of the Good Samaritan for example; the Samaritan stopped to help some one who everyone else passed by. If he would not have done this the vulnerable man likely would have died and the Samaritan's fate could have also been changed. This story shows the many effects one small action can create for the future. This scenario can be associated with the question, where would I be if I had done one thing differently?
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+10%3A25-37&version=NIV
Identity and change- the concept that nothing can exist without an identity and changes can only occur in reality causing an effect on existence
Charles Cooley's Looking Glass self theory, explains that people develop a sense of self based on how they are viewed by others meaning that your actions matter as they will create your identity.
https://lesley.edu/article/perception-is-reality-the-looking-glass-self
