StarMountainKid Posted August 27, 2013 #1 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Why was I born, and why now and not at some other time? This is probably an unanswerable question to ask, but why is my consciousness that I recognize as “me” existing at all? Any why in this present, and not at some other time in the past or future? Of all the babies born in history, why was this particular one me and not someone else, as all the other babies have been? I have no answer to this question, maybe someone can come up with an explanation. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bendy Demon Posted August 27, 2013 #2 Share Posted August 27, 2013 It's a toss of the genetic coin. Consciousness apparently relies totally on brain function. No brain, no consciousness. You only recognize yourself as being alive because you are. As a human you are in a civilization that focuses on being aware of this fleeting sensation. Why was any of us born. Who knows and further, why should it matter? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mule Posted August 27, 2013 #3 Share Posted August 27, 2013 The answer is in Sirens of Titan by Vonnegut 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarMountainKid Posted August 27, 2013 Author #4 Share Posted August 27, 2013 The answer is in Sirens of Titan by Vonnegut So I should thank the Tralfamadorians for being a pawn in their plan to repair Salo's ship so he can deliver an insipid message to some random intelligent species in the depths of space? Actually, this makes just as much sense to me as any other explanation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecowboy342 Posted August 27, 2013 #5 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Why was I born, and why now and not at some other time? This is probably an unanswerable question to ask, but why is my consciousness that I recognize as “me” existing at all? Any why in this present, and not at some other time in the past or future? Of all the babies born in history, why was this particular one me and not someone else, as all the other babies have been? I have no answer to this question, maybe someone can come up with an explanation. Maybe it was just your turn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wickian Posted August 27, 2013 #6 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Well, if you look at things in the long term our entire purpose of existing is just to bring on the next generation, so they can one day exist. Existence is a self-serving thing that really has no deeper meaning than to just try to continue existing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonardo Posted August 27, 2013 #7 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Why was I born, and why now and not at some other time? This is probably an unanswerable question to ask, but why is my consciousness that I recognize as “me” existing at all? Any why in this present, and not at some other time in the past or future? Of all the babies born in history, why was this particular one me and not someone else, as all the other babies have been? I have no answer to this question, maybe someone can come up with an explanation. The simplest answer is that "you" weren't born, but "you" are the product of everything that has happened to you since baby StarMountainKid was born. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ealdwita Posted August 27, 2013 #8 Share Posted August 27, 2013 During basic training, my Drill Sergeant used to scream that very question at me on the parade square, usually prefixed by the phrase, "You dozy little man!" 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecowboy342 Posted August 27, 2013 #9 Share Posted August 27, 2013 During basic training, my Drill Sergeant used to scream that very question at me on the parade square, usually prefixed by the phrase, "You dozy little man!" Not to get off topic but my senior drill instructor was a big Samoan and the only words I could understand were,"You p*** me off" 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Merton Posted August 27, 2013 #10 Share Posted August 27, 2013 It's a toss of the genetic coin. Consciousness apparently relies totally on brain function. No brain, no consciousness. You only recognize yourself as being alive because you are. As a human you are in a civilization that focuses on being aware of this fleeting sensation. Why was any of us born. Who knows and further, why should it matter? I don't know that consciousness totally relies on brain function; it seems to me all that has been demonstrated is that brain is necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Merton Posted August 27, 2013 #11 Share Posted August 27, 2013 A more important question than why was I born is now that I do exist, what do I do? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecowboy342 Posted August 27, 2013 #12 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I don't know that consciousness totally relies on brain function; it seems to me all that has been demonstrated is that brain is necessary. Are you saying a non-functioning brain could be conscious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor T Posted August 27, 2013 #13 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Why was I born, and why now and not at some other time? This is probably an unanswerable question to ask, but why is my consciousness that I recognize as “me” existing at all? Any why in this present, and not at some other time in the past or future? Of all the babies born in history, why was this particular one me and not someone else, as all the other babies have been? I have no answer to this question, maybe someone can come up with an explanation. Why not? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarMountainKid Posted August 27, 2013 Author #14 Share Posted August 27, 2013 My point is, isn't it strange that I (my personal consciousness) exist at all? I never existed before, how is it that I exist now? How could my personal consciousness just pop into existence in April 1944? What are the odds that I as my personal awareness would exist at all, and at this specific date? It just seems astonishing to me that I exist, and an absolutely exceptional occurrence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flbrnt Posted August 27, 2013 #15 Share Posted August 27, 2013 What proof do you have that a brain exists other than as a concept in your mind? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bendy Demon Posted August 27, 2013 #16 Share Posted August 27, 2013 My point is, isn't it strange that I (my personal consciousness) exist at all? I never existed before, how is it that I exist now? How could my personal consciousness just pop into existence in April 1944? What are the odds that I as my personal awareness would exist at all, and at this specific date? It just seems astonishing to me that I exist, and an absolutely exceptional occurrence. You are you because of the genetics of your parents and immediate ancestry coupled with how you were raised. To me this is all it boils down to. We are reactive biological machines that adapt and react to the stimuli in our surroundings. Our programming in upbringing i.e culture, parents, society, etc pretty much determines how our personality and awareness is expressed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecowboy342 Posted August 27, 2013 #17 Share Posted August 27, 2013 You are you because of the genetics of your parents and immediate ancestry coupled with how you were raised. To me this is all it boils down to. We are reactive biological machines that adapt and react to the stimuli in our surroundings. Our programming in upbringing i.e culture, parents, society, etc pretty much determines how our personality and awareness is expressed. I'm a bad machine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drayno Posted August 27, 2013 #18 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Why is anyone born? Why do we live and why do we die? I suppose we'll never have a straight answer. I am inclined to believe I would have been better in a different time.. I believe no one is ever entirely satisfied with the present. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarMountainKid Posted August 27, 2013 Author #19 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Hmm... I've thought of another way of trying to explain what I mean. Of all the babies born, why was this one "me"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie Posted August 27, 2013 #20 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Hmm... I've thought of another way of trying to explain what I mean. Of all the babies born, why was this one "me"? If you believe in reincarnation, it was cause you needed those parents and life to learn the lessons you came to learn...to evolve spiritually. If you don't believe in reincarnation then the answer is simply: a fluke. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bendy Demon Posted August 27, 2013 #21 Share Posted August 27, 2013 If you don't believe in reincarnation then the answer is simply: a fluke. How about genetics? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie Posted August 27, 2013 #22 Share Posted August 27, 2013 How about genetics? The sperm that reached the egg did so by chance, I guess...it could have been any other sperm and he would have been a completely different person. How do genes affect which sperm reached the egg first? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bendy Demon Posted August 27, 2013 #23 Share Posted August 27, 2013 How do genes affect which sperm reached the egg first? I am not a geneticist but both sperm and egg have their own half of the "code" so it matters little. It seems it is merely a race, so to speak. A competition and little more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie Posted August 27, 2013 #24 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I am not a geneticist but both sperm and egg have their own half of the "code" so it matters little. It seems it is merely a race, so to speak. A competition and little more. So a fluke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonardo Posted August 27, 2013 #25 Share Posted August 27, 2013 (edited) My point is, isn't it strange that I (my personal consciousness) exist at all? I never existed before, how is it that I exist now? How could my personal consciousness just pop into existence in April 1944? What are the odds that I as my personal awareness would exist at all, and at this specific date? It just seems astonishing to me that I exist, and an absolutely exceptional occurrence. The odds are exactly 1. We are all born more or less the same person. It is only through living our lives that we become different people, and the person we are at any given time. You are the product of all your life, and there can be no other like you because there is no other life exactly the same as yours. Therefore, you can only be you. Here. Now. You cannot be any other, therefore the odds of you existing now are 1. Edited August 27, 2013 by Leonardo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now