FallentoReason 2.0

[SpecUVdust]

If I could strip it right back and talk basics, then I'd say the order of the things that make the universe function lead me to think there's something behind it all. E.g. the maths/physics I have to learn for my engineering degree blow me away. Such elegance and beauty is behind the mechanisms of the universe.

While I understand what you're saying, I can't help but be drawn to a certain quote:
"The brain does much more than just recollect. It inter-compares, it synthesizes, it analyzes - it generates abstractions.
The simplest thought like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical under-pinning. The brain has its own language for testing the structure and consistency of the world." - Carl Sagan

There is a video I am compelled to use as a response to all of this. However, as this thread was to help you work out your thoughts on things, I will not risk trying to "persuade" you in any way. So I'm going to start a diff thread with it.[/code]

[FallentoReason]

(Today 09:03)SpecUVdust Wrote:
FallentoReason Wrote:
So I ask you Spec, what does any of this mean for Deism?
Like CD said:
CthulhuDreaming Wrote:
Oh, and we're not arguing, just batting thoughts around in the interest of helping you figure things out for yourself.

Are you sure? I think I may have triggered something within you that made you bring all this up in the first place.

Please read post #93 first. Now the reason I have brought up the nihilism is because I do not see how one might conjure up a deity that created everything(a huge leap of faith) and still be a nihilist. Obviously you're deity must have "created" for a purpose, even if it is only for its own entertainment. I'm not seeing how you can honestly be an existential-nihilistic-deist!

Oh ok, I see what you're saying, and it's a very good point, although I don't think I qualify as being a true nihilist. The existential bit I might be, but I'm rather confused as to what existentialism really is.

I think it's self evident that if a deistic Creator exists, then there is no direct purpose we can derive from this hypothetical situation. What I do know is that we're here now and whether you like it or not, your life takes on meaning from the things you experience. You can't not be experiencing life, which means almost by definition that your life will take on meaning no matter what you choose to do today (or not do). As for the Creator fitting into all of this; I think that the freedom of Deism (in terms of the lack of a divine inspired word) means that I can choose how to define what meaning my life will take on in relation with the Creation. I specifically want to delve more into the laws of nature and further appreciate what might not be a hypothetical Creator but an actual Creator.

I kind of went on a tangent possibly... but I hope that somewhat answers your question(s).

---

If I could strip it right back and talk basics, then I'd say the order of the things that make the universe function lead me to think there's something behind it all. E.g. the maths/physics I have to learn for my engineering degree blow me away. Such elegance and beauty is behind the mechanisms of the universe.

While I understand what you're saying, I can't help but be drawn to a certain quote:
"The brain does much more than just recollect. It inter-compares, it synthesizes, it analyzes - it generates abstractions.
The simplest thought like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical under-pinning. The brain has its own language for testing the structure and consistency of the world." - Carl Sagan

There is a video I am compelled to use as a response to all of this. However, as this thread was to help you work out your thoughts on things, I will not risk trying to "persuade" you in any way. So I'm going to start a diff thread with it.[/code]

I absolutely agree with Carl Sagan. I'm always open to the idea that I'm just plainly wrong about all this for whatever reasons.

If you want, message me the video url and I'll suss it out!

[SpecUVdust]

. The existential bit I might be, but I'm rather confused as to what existentialism really is.

Wikipedia Wrote:
Nihilism ( /ˈnaɪ.ɨlɪzəm/ or /ˈniː.ɨlɪzəm/; from the Latin nihil, nothing) is the philosophical doctrine suggesting the negation of one or more putatively meaningful aspects of life. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism, which argues that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value.

"Existential" on its own is completely different. It is "having being in space and time."