Is life just an illusion?

[ModernArtist25]

Everything is made up? Without our minds and the things we create with it, the universe and everything in it wouldn't exist?

What's your opinion?

Edited August 21, 2016 by ModernArtist25

[StringJunky]

I think that has shades of Buddhism, whereby we project out what we see.

 

Certainly, what we see is a construction of our minds and not a literal photograph-like image where we passively record all what passes into our eyes and we see that with our 'mind's eye'; it is selective as to what data is used and how it is used.

Edited August 21, 2016 by StringJunky

[Strange]

Everything is made up? Without our minds and the things we create with it, the universe and everything in it wouldn't exist?

 

 

How would you tell the difference?

[StringJunky]

 

 

How would you tell the difference?

That brick, that the brickie has just dropped above me, will not hit my head. Yes, as per HSE directives, I've got a lid on.

Edited August 21, 2016 by StringJunky

[dimreepr]

Everything is made up? Without our minds and the things we create with it, the universe and everything in it wouldn't exist?

What's your opinion?

 

 

Tell that to a sparrow.

[Strange]

 

 

Tell that to a sparrow.

 

 

But the sparrow only exists in your mind...

[dimreepr]

I don't know, I'm not a sparrow.

[Phi for All]

How would you tell the difference?

 

Usually, this question presupposes you can't tell. Which makes it fairly meaningless.

 

I don't mind that a question doesn't have an answer, but it bunches my undies when it CAN'T have one.

[iNow]

I was going to ask the same thing. How would you tell, and why would it matter? In essence, nothing changes.

Edited August 21, 2016 by iNow

[Strange]

I don't mind that a question doesn't have an answer, but it bunches my undies when it CAN'T have one.

 

 

It is probably worth spending a bit of time (e.g. in an intro to philosophy class) understanding why it can't have an answer. After that, it becomes pretty pointless.

[Lyudmilascience]

no it cant be all in our minds because if i did not exist it would not be in my mind yet it would exist for everyone else, or if i existed but did not believe in the universe it would still exist. sometimes i wish it didn't exist if i stop believing in it but that never happened.

[Ten oz]

Is life just an illusion, a dream, a simulation, or etc? The question gets asked many different ways. iNow and Phi for All bring of good points. In my opinion the question opens a door and then fails to peer through it. Unless I can wake from the dream or see the illusion as one than what difference does it make?

 

Peering through the open door how can one test reality to see if it is real? If it isn't real than what is on the otherside?

[Delta1212]

 

 

But the sparrow only exists in your mind...

Perhaps you only exist in the sparrow's mind.

[Jvee86]

I dont know about an illusion...But I am still on board with the Matrix idea. ;-)

 

Why can't we entertain the fact the we are just Super-intelligent -Super-sensitive Artificial Intelligence of some sort. You have to figure the advancements of each generation in technology have been astounding. Every Century, mankind has taken their base starting point of technology and grown on it exponentially. From your basic slack jawed caveman advancing from here starting point of squat...To building things and using tools. From us playing pong to now burning Dvds and running advanced machines. The advances are in leaps and bounds and continual. So in 300 years, won't we have created an Ai that can learn grow or feel on its own. Already we have computer software and life like video games and software where people can create virtual worlds. Won't we advance in no time and grow on that to having Superintelligent Ai in no time. So we will be creating this most likely for sure......So who is to say this hasnt been done by our ancestors or a intelligent "alien" life. And we are that by product.....And the Ai we create will go on to multiply and grow and create Ai of their own eventually and this will reapeat and repeat...Like it already has...like a tangled web of creations creating creations..and we are somewhere in the middle... But then again I am crazy.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Jvee86