1 where did I come from?

2 who am I?

3 where am I going?

Why not ask Alice ?

I know who I am & where I came from .

Don't know where I am going.

Life is full of surprises

1. A fertilized egg in my mother's womb. (sorry to be cliche, but it's true)

2. I am me. It's that simple. I don't find the need to complicate it any more than I am who I am, because that's all we're really sure of.

3. I go where I go. I'm very much a go-with-the-flow kind of person, so whatever happens, happens. I don't expect to be able to understand why I'm here and what our physical existence was created by. It's arrogant to assume that we would be able to even begin to comprehend something so intricate if there is more to life than physical existence.

the above posts do not do away with the questions that have been asked from before history began

Science has answered most of those questions.

No one knows where they are going in the long run

1.The physical I has been addressed. You are a genetic construct of two other people. The philosophical i is a lot more interesting.

What ever you perceive yourself to be is dependendent on several factors.

First the physical experiences of your life which provide data input to your brain.

Second the ability of your brain to process these data inputs.

I will assume that you have fully functioning data inputs and thus perceive acccurately the physical world around you.

Third and most variable, which gives us a unique individuality, the combination of those data inputs and the evaluations/ processing your brain makes of these. Thus two people may process or interpret the same event differently, depending both on past experiences and also on the way in which the brain operates. Not all brains process data in the same way, as is evident by the multi intelligences of people . Some people have more mathematical intelligence some musical etc.
Because our brain processes using the abilities it has, these intelligences create differerent self awarenesses in different individuals.

This would probably be true of identical clones, but certainly it is true for all other humans including even identical twins.

So both questions one and two are partly adressed by these points Where you come from and who you are depend on your genetic and environmental inheritances but also on your experiences and how you adapt to these.

Of course as humans we have another component in who we are. Because we are possessed of free will and also knowledge of many alternatives, we are able to construct the person we want to be as a matter of choice and discipline. This is self evidently true in areas like health and physical fitness, but less obviously true in our psychological and emotional make up as well.

In a sense, we are and can be, whoever/whatever we want to be.
Which of couse leads to the physical component of your third question. We are partly going where our past and present lead us, but always we have the ability to consruct our future. Thus we are actually going where ever we choose/wish to go.

The metaphysical answer is more complex. Perhaps we come from nowhere and return there. Thats not intrinsically a bad thing.

However, being humans, we have always toyed with the idea that because we are special, perhaps unique creatures in all the known universe, there must be some special purpose for us. That also implies a special starting place, eg created by a god among other concepts, and a special finishing place eg valhalla or heaven.

Others see existence as a circle of existence, with no true beginning or end. Many human,s through an innate desire to impose order on chaos, tend to create levels, or planes, of existence across which we move may in different lives.

In the end, I choose to live my life by my rules, and for my purposes. Further i try to apply the rules of calvin ball to life.

http://www.simplych.com/cb_rules.htm

Basically
The Unofficial Official Rules of Calvinball

Permanent Rule: You may not play the Calvinball the same way twice.

Primary Rule: The following rules are subject to be changed, amended, or deleted by any player(s) involved. These rules are not required, nor necessary to play Calvinball.

1.0. The following words in these rules are mostly freely interchangeable, the Primary Rule applies:

§ Can

§ May

§ Must

§ Shall

§ Should

§ Will

§ Would



The main thing is not to let anyone else determine for you, where you came from, what your purpose is, or where you are going.

This is equally true in a physical and a metaphysical sense.

1. I don't know
2. I don't know
3. I don't know

So, Daniel, of all the perennial questions you might have asked, why do all of yours turn on I?

I'll bet that's been asked once or twice throughout time, too.

1 ask your parents

2 no-one but yourself and what you want to be

3 "you can't change the wind, but you can adjust your sails"

Who says we even have the right to ask those questions?

What does that mean? Why wouldn't we?

Edit: hmpph forgot to answer.

1. How far back to you wanna go? I suppose you came from the Big Bang in a sense - but close up, like everyone said mother and father. Or maybe you would say God. And others may say you are some type of reincarnated recycled soul.

2. For the purpose of simplicity and a healthy functioning mind, it is best to keep simple on this one like Popeye " I ams what I ams". Although the theories of self are interesting: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self_%28philosophy%29

3. It is a bit like forecasting the weather - there are always unknown variables at play.

I always like your simple, yet occasionally cryptic questions Daniel.

Sounds to me like the onset of Alzheimers ,seek medical help



fullywired

don't look at me science is still asking the questions

I think you are confusing science with philosophy here.

Science can can explain the first question, but it only resolves the biological portion. "Who am I?" can also be answered by science, and psychology, but there is still a philosophical innuendo in that one as well. Science can't even begin to touch the last question, because as of yet, we have not been able to see into the future in any scientific manner.

In my view, you havnt come from anywhere because everything is One. Therefore you are from here and are here. You are where you are from. What is it that you are from (here), indescribable infinity.



Indescribable infinity or infinite consciousness (both the same thing).



I answered this in question one but for answering sake, paradoxically you are going back to where you already are, infinite consciousness or Absolute Reality.

This is the only person to be honost so far in my opinion

Hence science cannot fully explain the first question. Science hasnt been able to prove consciousness yet which is a precondition of being (in my view). Also if we reduce the biological to mere matter and then say matter came from the big bang, then where did the big bang come from if before it there was nothing?

If the potential for the big bang (the the big bang hasnt been proven) has always been there, then that means the universe has always been here in some form or another and therefore the big bang is merely an event in what for practical purposes would call 'eternity'. In this sense , if all potential for everything is already here then such processes and actualities such as birth, conception etc isnt where we come from because that would assume that such things quantitively and qualitively are outside or apart from the universe that has already been here.




Neither science, religion or philosophy can answer this fully. For one science cannot prove the existence or detect the mind or consciousness. They can show the workings of the brain and show how the brain can affector amplify awareness/consciousness but not show (despite searching all over the brain and they are still continuing to do so) how the brain produces awareness/consciousness. Hence science cannot show where consciousness comes from, how it is formed, or what it is (on a physical sense).

Let it be pointed out that if it wasnt for consciousness which has massive metaphysical, spiritual, philosophical, religious and shamanic conotations there would be no science as we know today.

Also on another note, in deep sleep without dreams we experience no body or awareness at all. Who are we then? Science or common sense would say we are still our body because from the outside people can still see and identify us. However to the subject experiencer there is nothing. Also in our dreams we often have different forms or identities. Again science and common sense may say that we are still our bodies experiencing EEGs however to the experiencer you are a different body in another world.

Then the question which science cannot answer is this: What if the world of physical science, EEGs and common sense (which we consider the real world) is the dream world and the dream world is the real one? What if they are as real as each other? What if deep sleep without dream is actually the state of consciousness that is real? What if all are illusory and true reality transcends them?

Physical science may be able to study the world of our senses but it cannot tell us whether the world of the senses it studies is an illusion or not.





Tis still fun to speculate though

Hmmm so there really was no answer to your questions.......kinda tricky of you Daniel, luring us here to make claims then calling us liars....

Of course nobody knows the answers really - but I agree with BNW - why not have a go

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
Genesis 3:19

Well, yeah. I didn't know the question was for believers though, I thought their faith answered those questions already?

Doesn't matter what you believe we know that "dust to dust " is true


fullywired

Thanks Danielost... this IS my honest personal answer, however, I like reading what others have to say

Define how you are using the word consciousness please

In what way was I dishonest, Daniel?

In what way was BNW dishonest?
In what way was SDD dishonest?
In what way was MLOR dishonest?
In what way was Lady O dishonest?
In what way was Mr Walker dishonest?
In what way was Emma Acid dishonest?
In what way was Cradle of Fish dishonest?
In what way was Belle dishonest?

Fullywired is a special case. He made a joke, and a good one, completely on-topic, and ironically, facially honest.

lol right behind you ! the minute I think I know something changes.

Oh I see. Good point.

these are very good questions for one who is figuring out who he is.. self awareness is one of the intellegences and tools that are of great benefit as you journey through your life.....

eventually, you figure out that these questions tend to lead to even bigger questions....and noone can define you but you...

Awareness

this also seems to be an honost answer.

your not dishonest just not honest.

didn't mean to call anyone a lier was not my intention. I don't think anyone lied opinion is not a lie but it also not always honost.

Thank you for that clarification, Daniel. Permit me to rephrase:

In what respect was I not honest?

Refreshing your recollection, in my post I asked a question of you:

So, Daniel, of all the perennial questions you might have asked, why do all of yours turn on I?

and made an observation about that question

I'll bet that's been asked once or twice throughout time, too.

That was all I posted, Daniel.

Answer my original question or not as you wish, but don't cover your tracks with personal attacks as you slink away from a discussion which you invited.

thinking about that again ....

1. I have no clue where I came from. Maybe IMO , just a peice of God in human form like the rest ?

2. I am I . defined by my past to an extent and shaped by what comes.

3. where am I going ? my best guess is forwards. with the flow.



(answers are subject to change at anytime - ty , the Management.)

In this case I is conjucture to refering to a single person.


Again opinion's can be honest but sometimes they lead to an answer that is not totally honest.

THANKS BUDDY!

There is a fourth question you missed out of your list, one that man from time immemorial has asked himself whenever somethings gone wrong -

WHY ME?

WHY ME??????????

Let me assure you that I, too, gave as honest an answer as i could, and one which was as detailed as possible in the space/time available. Perhaps you meant something other than honest?

ok

Hi Daniel -- I have not looked at the responses to your OP, but here is my response ... for what it's worth.

Ahem ... at age 44, I'm sure you know the answer.

You are you. Have you got a problem there?

I guess that depends on weather you are going to work? Or on holidays? Or ...?

My suggestion would be to follow Kermit's suggestion, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it".

Regards,
Karlis

Hhmmm ... are you suggesting that you have been around "before history began"?
Karlis

What was it that you just said?
Karlis

So -- you are a believer?
Karlis

Stuff happens.
Karlis

A lesson in biology wouldn't hurt...



danielost....at least on the UM forums.



Your user name is appropriate it would seem.

I never said a word

fullywireD

biology tells me how not where.

Actually, biology specifically evolutionary biology tells you where.