Philosophy Now Forum

The most important question is "How?"

How will I acquire knowledge?
How will I determine that what I have acquired is indeed knowledge and not a knock-off?
How will I update my knowledge?
How will I determine when my knowledge requires updating?

If you can't answer the 'How?" questions then anything goes. Grab a crystal ball or some Tarot cards...

TimeSeeker wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 7:23 pm The most important question is "How?"

How will I acquire knowledge?
How will I determine that what I have acquired is indeed knowledge and not a knock-off?
How will I update my knowledge?
How will I determine when my knowledge requires updating?

If you can't answer the 'How?" questions then anything goes. Grab a crystal ball or some Tarot cards...

Who or what is this "I" you refer to?

Nick_A wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:25 pm Who or what is this "I" you refer to?

HOW can I answer this question to your satisfaction?

42.

TimeSeeker wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:29 pm

Nick_A wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:25 pm Who or what is this "I" you refer to?

HOW can I answer this question to your satisfaction?

42.

The most ancient question is "Who am I"? So if you tell me who you are asking these questions, then it will begin to make sense.

Nick_A wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 5:34 am

TimeSeeker wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:29 pm

Nick_A wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:25 pm Who or what is this "I" you refer to?

HOW can I answer this question to your satisfaction?

42.

The most ancient question is "Who am I"? So if you tell me who you are asking these questions, then it will begin to make sense.

I am 42. 42 is asking these questions.

Ask an open question, you get a meaningless answer...

By Godel’s incompleteness theorems no answer I give you can ever be complete, so - why don’t you tell me what you are really asking?

TimeSeeker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:49 am

Nick_A wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 5:34 am

TimeSeeker wrote: ↑Tue Sep 11, 2018 10:29 pm

HOW can I answer this question to your satisfaction?

42.

The most ancient question is "Who am I"? So if you tell me who you are asking these questions, then it will begin to make sense.

I am 42. 42 is asking these questions.

Ask an open question, you get a meaningless answer...

By Godel’s incompleteness theorems no answer I give you can ever be complete, so - why don’t you tell me what you are really asking?

The answer is not meaningless.

42 is a label. A signifier.

Thus, you identify as a label, if you think you are what you identify with.

Walker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 7:16 am

TimeSeeker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:49 am

Nick_A wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 5:34 am

The most ancient question is "Who am I"? So if you tell me who you are asking these questions, then it will begin to make sense.

I am 42. 42 is asking these questions.

Ask an open question, you get a meaningless answer...

By Godel’s incompleteness theorems no answer I give you can ever be complete, so - why don’t you tell me what you are really asking?

The answer is not meaningless.

42 is a label. A signifier.

Thus, you identify as a label, if you think you are what you identify with.

You have fallen victim to abducrive reasoning.

There is a signifier (42). It points to a signified.

I identify as the signified, but to you (and for the sake of expediency/pragmatism) I communicate the signifier.

Because the question “Who am I” cannot be answered without omitting information about the signified. Any definition is necessarily incomplete.

So I am not even going to try.

I can’t compress my identity into a definition. That is why we have names. My name is 42.

That's why it's the most important question, for who are you without a name?

Walker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 7:47 am That's why it's the most important question, for who are you without a name?

I am nameless. Yet I still exist! Even if I can't define myself.

Ego death is freedom

TimeSeeker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 9:05 am

Walker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 7:47 am That's why it's the most important question, for who are you without a name?

I am nameless. Yet I still exist! Even if I can't define myself.

Ego death is freedom

Indeed!!

Lacewing wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 4:09 pm

TimeSeeker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 9:05 am

Walker wrote: ↑Wed Sep 12, 2018 7:47 am That's why it's the most important question, for who are you without a name?

I am nameless. Yet I still exist! Even if I can't define myself.

Ego death is freedom

Indeed!!

A rock exists. Are you a rock?

If not, aspects differentiate you from a rock.

Are these aspects who you are?

Walker wrote: ↑Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:10 am A rock exists. Are you a rock?

If not, aspects differentiate you from a rock.

No. I am not a rock.

From: https://repl.it/repls/DarksalmonOutlandishThings

In [1]: print("A rock exists.")
...: class Rock(object):
...: pass
...:
...: RockyBilboa = Rock()
...:
...: print("I exist.")
...: class Human(object):
...: pass
...:
...: TimeSeeker = Human()
...:
...: print("Am I a rock? {}".format(RockyBilboa == TimeSeeker))
...: print("If not, aspects differentiate you from a rock.")
...:
...: from deepdiff import DeepDiff
...: print(DeepDiff(RockyBilboa, TimeSeeker))
...:
A rock exists.
I exist.
Am I a rock? False
If not, what aspects differentiate you from a rock.
{'type_changes': {'root': {'new_type': <class '__main__.Human'>, 'old_type': <class '__main__.Rock'>, 'old_value': <__main__.Rock object at 0x1098c9a90>, 'new_value': <__main__.Human object at 0x1098c9ad0>}}}

Well. I am a Type (from Type theory) Human. A rock is a Type Rock. These are just abstractions we made up to deal with the complexity of the universe around us. First and foremost they are value judgments. An arbitrary choice in how to categorize the world around us.

I am guessing that's not the answer you were looking for?

The human body has about 7*1027 atoms. A rock has far fewer atoms.
Is that the distinction you are looking for? The composition/make/arrangement of the quarks/atoms/molecules is different.

These arrangements are so particular that we have abstracted them into words like "cells". I am made of cells. A rock isn't But we are both made of the same matter. So in a way we are the same. We both have names. TimeSeeker and RockyBilboa! But we are also different.

I have brown eyes. A rock doesn't.
I have hands. A rock doesn't.
I like cheesecake. I am almost certain the rock doesn't.

Walker wrote: ↑Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:10 am Are these aspects who you are?

I don't understand the English question. Can you translate it into Python? Well aware that logic (logos) is language and all logic (language) is incomplete. Are you in pursuit of completeness perhaps?

Are you asking about the XOR operator perhaps? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_or

XORing me against a rock will produce A LOT!!!! Of information. Where would you like me to upload it?

You say you cannot define yourself.
You say you are not a rock, which is a definition.

If you had no eyes, or hands, and did not like cheesecake, would you be a rock?

Walker wrote: ↑Thu Sep 13, 2018 12:15 pm If you had no eyes, or hands, and did not like cheesecake, would you be a rock?

Are you seeking for the essence of a rock?

It's made of the same stuff I am. Just different arrangement.

Do you think the essence of a rock is the most important question?

Is 42 your essence?

Is the stuff that you're made of, your essence?