Philosophy

Science is excellent at answering what and how but why is left to philosophers. I am not a trained philosopher just a normally educated American citizen who sometimes think about things philosophical. I believe that most Americans also think on these things now and again often arriving at a satisfying answer to why. This is my attempt to record my thinking on the various questions and my best solutions regarding why.

Within the discipline of Metaphysics, the mind (soul) -body question is one of the most intriguing. There are two basic theories, monism and dualism. 

Metaphysics: The study of the nature of reality, existence, and the universe. It's about seeking to understand the underlying principles and structures of everything that exists.

(Cosmology primarily falls under the umbrella of science, specifically astronomy and physics, as it involves studying the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe. However, cosmology does intersect with philosophy, especially in areas like metaphysics and epistemology, where it explores the fundamental nature and origins of the cosmos.)

• The mind-body question.
• The Universe: There are several fascinating theories about the types of universe, each offering a unique perspective on the nature of existence:

• Steady State Universe: This theory suggests that the universe has always existed in a constant state, with new matter continuously created as the universe expands
• Big Bang Theory: The most widely accepted theory, proposing that the universe began from an extremely hot and dense singularity about 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since
• Multiverse Theory: This theory posits the existence of multiple universes, each with its own set of physical laws and constants. It includes subtheories like the 
• Level I Multiverse (an extension of our universe), 
• Level II Multiverse (universes with different physical constants), 
• Level III Multiverse (many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics), and 
• Level IV Multiverse (ultimate ensemble)
• Plasma Universe Theory: This theory suggests that the universe is filled with plasma and that electromagnetic forces play a crucial role in the universe's structure and evolution.
• Conformal Cyclic Cosmology: This theory proposes that the universe undergoes infinite cycles of big bangs and expansions, with each cycle being a "conformal" transformation of the previous one.
• Slow Freeze and Heat Death: These theories describe the universe's long-term fate, with the Slow Freeze suggesting a gradual cooling and the Heat Death suggesting a state of maximum entropy where no more useful energy is available.
• Black Hole Cosmology: This theory suggests that our observable universe might be inside a black hole existing in a larger universe.
• Quantum Fluctuation Theory: This theory proposes that the universe could have originated from quantum fluctuations in a vacuum.
• The nature of objects and their properties: Investigating how things are constituted and what properties they possess.
• Space and Time: Exploring the nature of these fundamental frameworks in which we exist.
• Cause and effect: Understanding how events are connected and what it means for one thing to cause another.
• Possibility and Necessity: Examining what could be and what must be.
• What is being?: The study of what it means for something to exist.

Epistemology: The investigation of knowledge, belief, and the nature of truth.

Ethics: The examination of moral values, principles, and the concept of right and wrong.

Logic: The analysis of reasoning and argumentation, focusing on the principles of valid inference.

Aesthetics: The exploration of beauty, art, and taste, and their impact on human experience.

Political Philosophy: The study of government, justice, rights, and the role of individuals within society.

Where does the mind-body question fit? Dualism

Its easier and more plausible that :
(a) The universe has ALWAYS existed and WILL always exist. And that :
(b) Is always subject to change dispite long periods of static in some regions.
(c) contains an amount of energy which is infinite and dispite chemical interactions, remains the same.
And (d) is composed of elements and particles, atoms and sub-atomic particles which can be known and are limited thou thier by-products may be unlimited. AND :
(e) Life and living beings almost d i dont happen at all and so is unlikely to exist elsewhere at least anywhere near where we are.
(f) 99.9 % of space is freezing cold and 0.001% is way hotter than any life form could ever tolerate. And percentages of infinite amounts are abstract.
(g) the human mind and brain is the most complex thing in the known universe.
(h) the universe is mainly harmless.

Theories of Reality

1. Objectivism: This view relies on natural science to determine what is real. It posits that reality exists independently of human perception and can be understood through empirical evidence and scientific methods1.

2. Subjectivism: This perspective emphasizes perceptual experience, suggesting that reality is shaped by individual perceptions and consciousness. It argues that what we perceive as reality is a construct of our minds1.

3. Intersubjectivism: This theory highlights the role of social constructs and shared beliefs in shaping reality. It suggests that reality is not just an individual experience but is also formed through collective human interactions and agreements1.

4. Idealism: This philosophical stance asserts that reality is fundamentally mental or immaterial. According to idealists, the material world is a manifestation of the mind or consciousness2.

5. Physicalism: In contrast to idealism, physicalism holds that everything that exists is physical in nature. This view is closely aligned with scientific materialism, which asserts that all phenomena can be explained by physical processes and laws2.

6. Phenomenalism: This theory proposes that physical objects do not exist independently of our perception of them. Instead, objects are merely collections of sensory experiences or phenomena3.

7. Solipsism: An extreme form of subjectivism, solipsism posits that only one’s own mind is sure to exist. Everything outside one’s own mind is uncertain and may not exist independently3.

THEORIES OF EXISTENCE:

Philosophical theories regarding existence, often explored within metaphysics, address the nature of being, reality, and the fundamental structure of the world. Here are some of the main theories and approaches:

1. Existentialism

• Existentialism emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and choice. It suggests that existence precedes essence, meaning that humans first exist and then create their own meaning or purpose through their actions. Key existentialist thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus argue that life has no inherent meaning, but individuals can find meaning through authentic living.
• Central themes include angst, absurdity, freedom, and the responsibility of choice. It often explores how people confront the "nothingness" or the seeming meaninglessness of existence.

2. Essentialism

• Essentialism posits that things have a set of attributes essential to their identity and function. It claims that every entity has a nature or essence that defines its existence. For example, a human being might be defined by rationality, while a triangle is defined by having three sides.
• This view contrasts with existentialism, as it suggests that essence (inherent nature) precedes existence, meaning that things are defined by what they fundamentally are.

3. Nihilism

• Nihilism is the belief that life lacks meaning, purpose, or value. It argues that traditional moral and existential values are baseless, and that nothing can be known or communicated.
• Often associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, who saw it as a crisis of meaning in the modern world, nihilism challenges the idea that there is an inherent order or purpose to life. Nietzsche proposed overcoming nihilism through the creation of new values.

4. Materialism

• Materialism asserts that only material or physical things truly exist. All phenomena, including consciousness and thought, are viewed as results of material interactions.
• There is no room for immaterial substances or spiritual existence in materialism; everything that exists is explainable in terms of matter and physical laws.

5. Idealism

• Idealism claims that reality is fundamentally mental or immaterial. The world is a construct of the mind or consciousness, and material objects exist only as ideas within the mind.
• Thinkers like George Berkeley argued for "immaterialism," where physical objects exist only insofar as they are perceived. For him, "to be is to be perceived" ("esse est percipi").

6. Dualism

• Dualism posits that there are two fundamental types of existence: material (physical) and immaterial (spiritual or mental). The classic example is Cartesian dualism, proposed by René Descartes, which divides reality into mind (res cogitans) and body (res extensa).
• This approach attempts to reconcile the existence of both mental experiences and physical objects, seeing them as distinct but potentially interacting substances.

7. Phenomenology

• Phenomenology, founded by Edmund Husserl, focuses on the study of conscious experiences as they are lived. It is concerned with how things appear to us through consciousness, rather than assuming an independent reality apart from our experiences.
• This approach aims to describe phenomena as they are perceived by individuals, recognizing the role of subjective experience in shaping reality.

8. Monism

• Monism asserts that all of existence is derived from a single substance or principle. There are different types of monism:
  • Material Monism: Claims that everything is composed of matter.
  • Idealistic Monism: Holds that everything is composed of mind or consciousness.
  • Neutral Monism: Suggests that both mental and physical phenomena arise from a single, more fundamental substance that is neither purely mental nor purely physical.

9. Absurdism

• Absurdism, a philosophy associated with Albert Camus, argues that humans naturally seek meaning in a universe that is indifferent and devoid of inherent meaning. This confrontation between the desire for significance and the silent universe creates an "absurd" condition.
• Absurdism doesn't conclude that life is meaningless, but rather that meaning must be created in the face of the absurd.

10. Panpsychism

• Panpsychism posits that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous aspect of the universe. It suggests that all matter, even at a fundamental level, has some form of consciousness or experiential quality.
• This theory challenges the traditional view that consciousness arises only in complex brains, proposing instead that it is a basic feature of reality.

11. Solipsism

• Solipsism is the idea that only one's own mind is certain to exist. It suggests that everything outside one's own consciousness is uncertain, including the existence of other people and the external world.
• While often considered an extreme position, solipsism raises important questions about perception and the limits of knowledge regarding existence.