The idea of whether or not we truly exist has been a philosophical debate that has been going on for centuries. Despite advancements in technology, science, and medicine, we still find ourselves grappling with the concept of reality and what it means to truly exist.
René Descartes, a prominent philosopher in the 17th century, famously stated, "Cogito ergo sum," which translates to "I think, therefore I am." This concept is often used to support the idea of solipsism, which suggests that one's mind is the only thing that can be proven to exist. In other words, we can never truly know whether or not anything outside of our own minds is real.
As we continue to progress as a society, we are constantly bombarded with new technology that can trick our senses. We can watch movies and play video games that feel incredibly real, but are merely simulations. Our vision can be deceived, and we can be tricked into thinking we are experiencing something that isn't actually happening. Hypothetically, this could all be a dream. You alone, in a strange realm, your mind conjuring up all of this universe.
Zhuang Zhou, a Chinese philosopher from the 4th century BCE, is traditionally thought to have been the author of a text containing many parables, and thought experiments. One night, he writes, he went to bed and dreamt that he was a butterfly. Flying from flower to flower, while he was fluttering about, he felt as free as the universe. Suddenly, Zhuang Zhou awoke, and realised he had just been dreaming that he was a butterfly. But then, Zhuang Zhou had a strange thought strike him, and asked himself a question: “Was I Zhuang Zhou dreaming that I was a butterfly, or am I now really a butterfly dreaming that I am Zhuang Zhou?”
This thought experiment is clear to open some fresh eyes to the idea that we cannot have any definitive proof, that we, or anything including our mind, actually exists.
This fact encourages Nihilism, past ambivalence, through depression, to discover, life is meaningless.
This Nihilist realization can lead one to believe that life is ultimately meaningless. However, I believe that Omnism is opposed to this idea, in that everything has meaning. Every religion and ideology is right, if it is used in a way that gives the individuals life a meaning.
The idea of whether or not we truly exist is a complex philosophical question that will never be fully answered. While we may never be able to definitively prove our own existence or the existence of anything outside of our own minds, we can find meaning and purpose in the experiences and beliefs that we hold.
As we continue to evolve and explore new technologies and ideas, it is crucial to remember that our understanding of reality is subjective and that we must always remain open-minded to different perspectives. Ultimately, the pursuit of knowledge and the search for meaning in our lives will continue to be a fundamental part of the human experience.
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