Metaphysics: Fundamental Questions

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Metaphysics: Fundamental Questions

4. What is consciousness?

Time: Time is something the human consciousness had come up with on its own, the human consciousness I creates concepts (Idealist view)

Consciousness: We can’t deny human consciousness because we’d be using our consciousness to deny it. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00567/full This article talks about how the human consciousness is an undeniable behavior, and not a physical human trait.

Mind and Matter- The idea that our mind is both physical and not at the same time Example: Our brain operates through transmitting messages through the body physically, but our thoughts aren’t physical

Do we have free will?

Religion- Some religions believe that a Devine being controls our actions and intentions https://dashhouse.com/2009821does-god-control-human-decisions-and-actions-html/ This article talks about the idea of “God” having control of everyone’s actions

Consciousness- We have to be conscious of our decisions to have free will Example: If someone is unconscious, they can’t be held responsible for their actions.

Free Will- The idea that humans are rational agents and make our own decisions and path in life. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/theres-no-such-thing-as-free-will/480750/ This article from The Atlantic argues that humans do not have free will- from a philosophical, psychological, and scientific standpoint

Does the world really excist?

Religion- The idea that since a great Devine being created the world, it must be real. Example: Someone who practices a religion may believe in the world’s existence because of their faith in a great Devine being.

Cosmogony- humans have the constant need to know about their existence and the world around them https://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/astronomy-terms/cosmogony-info.htm This article explains the idea of cosmogony

Existence and Consciousness- It’s hard to deny the world’s existence when we’re living in it and touching/interacting with it every day, somewhat like the idea that you can’t deny your minds existence because you’re using your mind to deny it. Example: If you’re physically touching a tree, how is it not existing

1. What is the meaning of life?

Religion - does believing in a divine being give meaning to one’s life, or does it take away from it. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3979581/ This article from the US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health written by Stephen Cranney, talks about their research into if people who believe in God have more of a sense of purpose in life.

Objects:does our meaning of life connect to the relations between us and objects, do abstract objects control our sense of meaning (happiness, sadness) https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/happy_life_different_from_meaningful_life This article is asking the question, is there a difference between having a meaningful life and a happy life, and does having a happy life make it meaningful?

Free Will- Having the sense of free will makes human beings feel like their life has meaning https://samharris.org/life-without-free-will/ This article talks about the different views of having a sense of free will, and how it effects one conscious

5. What is our place in the universe?

Determinism - There is a pre-made chain of events that every human being has a place in Example: Person becomes a doctor to save another person who has a child who becomes an important world leader.

Religion and Spirituality - A Devine being put us in the universe for an unknown reason Example: “God” wouldn’t have put us here without a reason