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Why am I me?
RE: Why am I me?
(October 12, 2010 at 5:58 pm)R-e-n-n-a-t Wrote: Being conscious individually, as I assume everyone else is, the question comes to mind; why do I exist from a 1st person point of view? Obviously I couldn't exist from a 3rd person POV, but when I die it'll seem to me as if the world ends; MY world will end. How can I explain this... When you sleep without dreaming everything is nonremembered, and seems 'black'. If death is the same, then it'll be lights out for eternity, and therefore I'm wondering why I'm conscious to begin with. Why me? Why here? Why now? Why at all? etc.

Any answers or ideas? I've asked my friends and family, but they don't really grasp the concept of the question.Thinking

Your question has so many different answers.  All answers are relative, and all answers are limited, restricted only by the point of reference from which they are being answered.  For example, there is the Quantum Physical reference point; there is the Metaphysical reference point; there is the Natural (i.e. biological) reference point (which seems a popular reference point based on reading some of the answers to your question); there is the, dare I say, Religious reference point;  There are other reference points too, but my favourite is the Guessing reference point.  This one is easy because it's not based on fact (referring to even the Scientific reference point), but in short, my own opinion.

There are those who will say, "You are not you.  You are me and I am you.  We are.  Where you end is where I begin."  But you do not end and I do not begin.  We simply are.  You are not your biology as much as I can not be your biology, nor can you be my biology. It has nothing to do with biology in the first place except that biology restricts you.  This is a necessary thing (consider order, and the order of things, all things - Quantum Physical point of reference scores!).  Am I the car that I drive?  I am not.  Yet, when I am in the car it moves in accordance with my will (faster slower stop left-turn right-turn or not at all).  Is my biology not the same?  I can not be in me and in you at the same time.  As much as I can not drive one car and be inside another at the same time.  It is only when I get out of the car that I can enter another (consider demonic possession - Religious point of reference shoots and scores!)  When I look into your eyes I can 'touch' you without touching you (Metaphysical point of reference steps up). When I make love to you at what level do we become one, if we become one at all, and are we not one even before the act.  I would surely not want to be one with that thug who's just killed a helpless victim! I still am though. I am one even with the victim (enters empathy - as elaborated on so eloquently in a previous answer)  So, do I stop when my biology stops? No (with conviction) you don't. You will never stop (as if I know!).  Death is a biological experience only, at least the death we know.  You are not your biology, at least I'm of the opinion that you are not, and therefore death will not affect you - only your biology. 

However, your question still remains unanswered.  To this end I say; This much I do know, i.e., your question can not be answered.  At least not by anything that has to employ the use of "biological circuits" to answer it.  Consider this though; You have free agency (given to you, or just as a matter of biology - it doesn't matter how you got it, fact is, you have it) and because you are not your biology it would follow that you were before your biology. Which leads to the somewhat less than dramatic conclusion that you must have chosen your biology... (and the family into which you were be born into, environmental conditions, etc. Why choose your specific family and not the Royal from Buckingham? Only you will know).  So, let is sink in for a minute! And the reason you don't know this is because no one has ever told you, yet in the deep quiet spaces of your heart you have always known it, and realising it now gives you a sense of peace (biologically, metaphysically, religiously, scientifically - and on all other levels too).  So it follows, that if you chose your biology you did so for a reason.  Dare I say, purpose!  Leading to the even bigger question of "what's next?"

Then there is the time paradox (Quantum Physicists please correct me when I stray) which states that time is not progressive as we know it, moving in one direction only (from yesterday to today to tomorrow), but exists all simultaneously. You exist somewhere in a 'yesterday' as you do now in a 'today' as you do in a 'tomorrow' all simultaneously (without even knowing it) and if you can alter the vibrating energies of your quarks and electrons etc. in the slightest that you can move in-between these levels. So do you ever really die?  According to quantum theory you have already died. Your death and your birth is happening at the same time, as is your now. Take a few seconds to consider this.  If that is so, it only affirms that I am not and can not be my biology.  After all, I am able to perceive and conceive my own consciousness. It can therefore not be my biology that does this (I don't know.  I'm just guessing).

And again, there are many more answers to your question. One of these will find root in your heart and grow on you and eventually make sense to you and you'll live your life in accordance with it. The key is to never stop asking the question because it's what makes you individually you. First person..
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Messages In This Thread
Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - October 12, 2010 at 5:58 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Anomalocaris - October 12, 2010 at 6:15 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Ace Otana - October 12, 2010 at 6:22 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Anomalocaris - October 12, 2010 at 7:14 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - October 13, 2010 at 8:03 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by TheDarkestOfAngels - October 13, 2010 at 8:34 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Loki_999 - October 14, 2010 at 1:41 am
RE: Why am I me? - by marksesl - October 15, 2012 at 3:40 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Existentialist - October 12, 2010 at 7:32 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by ib.me.ub - October 13, 2010 at 3:04 am
RE: Why am I me? - by TheDarkestOfAngels - October 13, 2010 at 4:57 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Loki_999 - October 13, 2010 at 5:35 am
RE: Why am I me? - by The Omnissiunt One - October 13, 2010 at 7:26 am
RE: Why am I me? - by ib.me.ub - October 14, 2010 at 6:23 am
RE: Why am I me? - by ChromodynamicGirl - October 16, 2010 at 6:24 am
RE: Why am I me? - by solja247 - October 21, 2010 at 6:14 am
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - October 27, 2010 at 3:27 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by jason56 - October 27, 2010 at 7:38 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 27, 2010 at 7:41 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - October 28, 2010 at 3:05 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 29, 2010 at 3:29 am
RE: Why am I me? - by deanalouise - December 15, 2016 at 2:45 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Edwardo Piet - October 29, 2010 at 4:58 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 29, 2010 at 5:01 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Edwardo Piet - October 29, 2010 at 5:06 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 29, 2010 at 5:15 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Edwardo Piet - October 29, 2010 at 5:34 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 29, 2010 at 5:54 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Edwardo Piet - October 29, 2010 at 7:47 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 30, 2010 at 3:45 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Edwardo Piet - October 31, 2010 at 7:42 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Yahadreas - October 29, 2010 at 10:31 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Edwardo Piet - October 29, 2010 at 11:06 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Yahadreas - October 30, 2010 at 6:41 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 30, 2010 at 7:38 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Yahadreas - October 30, 2010 at 1:57 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by The Omnissiunt One - October 30, 2010 at 2:59 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 30, 2010 at 6:47 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Yahadreas - October 31, 2010 at 6:58 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - November 3, 2010 at 12:44 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Dooga33 - September 1, 2011 at 9:27 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - September 3, 2011 at 4:01 am
RE: Why am I me? - by KichigaiNeko - September 3, 2011 at 7:06 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Dooga33 - September 3, 2011 at 11:01 am
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - September 3, 2011 at 11:05 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Dooga33 - September 3, 2011 at 11:26 am
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - September 3, 2011 at 11:24 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - September 4, 2011 at 10:34 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Dooga33 - September 4, 2011 at 10:40 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Rohobian - September 10, 2011 at 12:06 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by The Magic Pudding - September 10, 2011 at 1:59 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - September 15, 2011 at 6:28 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - September 16, 2011 at 10:08 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by The Magic Pudding - September 17, 2011 at 11:06 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by IATIA - September 17, 2011 at 11:47 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - September 18, 2011 at 6:32 am
RE: Why am I me? - by IATIA - September 18, 2011 at 10:59 am
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - September 18, 2011 at 7:20 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by IATIA - September 18, 2011 at 11:42 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Epimethean - September 18, 2011 at 7:31 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - September 18, 2011 at 11:20 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Epimethean - September 18, 2011 at 11:44 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by KichigaiNeko - September 19, 2011 at 10:24 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - September 19, 2011 at 6:18 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Epimethean - September 19, 2011 at 10:08 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by toro - October 26, 2011 at 1:04 am
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - October 26, 2011 at 8:05 am
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - October 26, 2011 at 2:18 am
RE: Why am I me? - by frankiej - October 26, 2011 at 8:13 am
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - October 26, 2011 at 8:40 am
RE: Why am I me? - by KichigaiNeko - October 26, 2011 at 8:46 am
RE: Why am I me? - by frankiej - October 26, 2011 at 8:48 am
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - October 26, 2011 at 9:16 am
RE: Why am I me? - by KichigaiNeko - October 26, 2011 at 9:23 am
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - October 26, 2011 at 10:28 am
RE: Why am I me? - by KichigaiNeko - October 26, 2011 at 10:42 am
RE: Why am I me? - by frankiej - October 26, 2011 at 8:43 am
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - October 26, 2011 at 10:39 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 26, 2011 at 11:57 am
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - October 26, 2011 at 10:44 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - October 26, 2011 at 12:02 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - October 26, 2011 at 11:59 am
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - October 26, 2011 at 10:40 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by toro - October 26, 2011 at 10:54 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - October 27, 2011 at 8:57 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - October 27, 2011 at 5:46 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by toro - October 30, 2011 at 1:43 am
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - October 30, 2011 at 6:08 am
RE: Why am I me? - by toro - October 31, 2011 at 10:55 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Phaedra - October 31, 2011 at 11:33 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by lucent - November 1, 2011 at 1:33 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Welsh cake - November 1, 2011 at 12:32 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by toro - November 2, 2011 at 1:17 am
RE: Why am I me? - by IATIA - November 6, 2011 at 5:11 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Godschild - November 3, 2011 at 4:33 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by R-e-n-n-a-t - November 7, 2011 at 11:07 am
RE: Why am I me? - by frankiej - November 3, 2011 at 4:34 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by 5thHorseman - November 3, 2011 at 4:38 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by frankiej - November 3, 2011 at 4:39 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - November 3, 2011 at 4:56 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Godschild - November 4, 2011 at 1:15 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Norfolk And Chance - November 12, 2011 at 8:16 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by IATIA - November 13, 2011 at 7:58 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Norfolk And Chance - November 13, 2011 at 8:11 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by IATIA - November 13, 2011 at 8:21 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Norfolk And Chance - November 13, 2011 at 8:25 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by toro - November 13, 2011 at 10:00 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by IATIA - November 13, 2011 at 8:45 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Norfolk And Chance - November 13, 2011 at 10:29 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - November 14, 2011 at 9:18 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Epimethean - November 14, 2011 at 9:35 am
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - November 14, 2011 at 9:45 am
RE: Why am I me? - by ib.me.ub - November 14, 2011 at 9:59 am
RE: Why am I me? - by dogma - February 14, 2012 at 4:40 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - February 14, 2012 at 12:03 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by dogma - February 14, 2012 at 11:38 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by KichigaiNeko - February 14, 2012 at 4:56 am
RE: Why am I me? - by jason56 - February 14, 2012 at 8:35 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - February 15, 2012 at 12:09 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by dogma - February 15, 2012 at 2:52 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Perhaps - February 15, 2012 at 12:38 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - February 15, 2012 at 3:33 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by dogma - February 15, 2012 at 5:37 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - February 15, 2012 at 4:38 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by philosiver - July 12, 2012 at 6:50 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Violet - July 12, 2012 at 9:41 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Reforged - July 12, 2012 at 10:22 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by jonb - July 13, 2012 at 5:39 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Colanth - July 16, 2012 at 10:59 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by liam - July 17, 2012 at 5:49 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Comprehender - October 15, 2012 at 8:11 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - October 15, 2012 at 9:34 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Comprehender - October 16, 2012 at 10:18 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Whateverist - October 16, 2012 at 11:09 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - October 16, 2012 at 10:40 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Comprehender - October 20, 2012 at 11:18 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - October 21, 2012 at 11:34 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - October 16, 2012 at 1:08 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Whateverist - October 16, 2012 at 2:07 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Darkstar - October 21, 2012 at 1:33 am
RE: Why am I me? - by The Grand Nudger - October 21, 2012 at 11:35 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - October 21, 2012 at 12:31 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Tempus - October 23, 2012 at 1:33 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Edwardo Piet - October 24, 2012 at 9:50 am
RE: Why am I me? - by YASHA - October 26, 2012 at 11:39 am
RE: Why am I me? - by blackjack1221 - March 6, 2013 at 8:00 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Rhizomorph13 - March 6, 2013 at 8:24 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Darkstar - March 6, 2013 at 9:01 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Jackalope - March 6, 2013 at 10:13 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Darkstar - March 6, 2013 at 10:55 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Something completely different - March 6, 2013 at 9:13 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by FragileTag - March 23, 2013 at 1:25 am
RE: Why am I me? - by KichigaiNeko - March 23, 2013 at 10:30 am
RE: Why am I me? - by FirstmadeLast - April 24, 2015 at 8:40 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Mudhammam - April 25, 2015 at 5:09 am
RE: Why am I me? - by account_inactive - December 15, 2016 at 2:49 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by FatAndFaithless - December 15, 2016 at 2:50 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by vorlon13 - December 15, 2016 at 3:06 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by abaris - December 15, 2016 at 3:24 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by vorlon13 - December 15, 2016 at 3:26 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Cato - December 15, 2016 at 10:50 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by LadyForCamus - December 15, 2016 at 11:20 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by Chas - December 17, 2016 at 12:49 pm
RE: Why am I me? - by LadyForCamus - December 16, 2016 at 8:08 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Whateverist - December 16, 2016 at 8:45 am
RE: Why am I me? - by AceBoogie - December 17, 2016 at 6:26 am
RE: Why am I me? - by bennyboy - December 17, 2016 at 6:45 am
RE: Why am I me? - by Edwardo Piet - December 17, 2016 at 6:52 am



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