The crux of this paradox is that existence is EVERYTHING, even nothing, but there is a difference between existence and physical existence. Of course unicorns exist.... in our minds.
Concepts ARE existent, ideas, within our consciousness and awareness of the world. We may be aware of that which doesn't physically exist objectively, in many many ways. Imagination, pictures, virtual worlds, insanity... Pictures and virtual worlds exist physically in their own right, but only as far as the physical constructs that define them do (e.g. the ink and the paper exist but not what it represents, the pixels exist but not the world they allow us to engage in, not physically). However
an idea is just a state of mind, and, so, is a physical object, no? are you asking why someone would have an idea that doesn't map to something in reality? perhaps that is getting into psychology. people are neurotic. they will have inaccurate ideas so long as having the idea gives them an emotional payoff. this can potentially cause them to develop an inaccurate perception of reality, which in turn, can lead to poor decisions in life.
There are really just two basic categories of existence:
1. mental objects, and
2. "physical" objects.
Now that mentality has arisen on (putatively) non-living substrates (computers and networks thereof), mental existence no longer requires humans. "Physical" existence is a function of agreement: between multiple sensory perceptions and/or between mentalities. It is always apparent, while mental existence is absolute. Black holes apparently exist in "reality". Unicorns apparently don't.
interesting to think about actual and virtual objects existing. For some reason the word Trualism or trialism came to mind when thinking about a three part dualism. :P
The crux of this paradox is that existence is EVERYTHING, even nothing, but there is a difference between existence and physical existence. Of course unicorns exist.... in our minds.
TheZAIZEM 1 month ago
Concepts ARE existent, ideas, within our consciousness and awareness of the world. We may be aware of that which doesn't physically exist objectively, in many many ways. Imagination, pictures, virtual worlds, insanity... Pictures and virtual worlds exist physically in their own right, but only as far as the physical constructs that define them do (e.g. the ink and the paper exist but not what it represents, the pixels exist but not the world they allow us to engage in, not physically). However
TheZAIZEM 1 month ago
an idea is just a state of mind, and, so, is a physical object, no? are you asking why someone would have an idea that doesn't map to something in reality? perhaps that is getting into psychology. people are neurotic. they will have inaccurate ideas so long as having the idea gives them an emotional payoff. this can potentially cause them to develop an inaccurate perception of reality, which in turn, can lead to poor decisions in life.
namebrand55 1 year ago
ps. i have only a very crude understanding of philosophy.
namebrand55 1 year ago
There are really just two basic categories of existence:
1. mental objects, and
2. "physical" objects.
Now that mentality has arisen on (putatively) non-living substrates (computers and networks thereof), mental existence no longer requires humans. "Physical" existence is a function of agreement: between multiple sensory perceptions and/or between mentalities. It is always apparent, while mental existence is absolute. Black holes apparently exist in "reality". Unicorns apparently don't.
prhughes0 2 years ago
interesting to think about actual and virtual objects existing. For some reason the word Trualism or trialism came to mind when thinking about a three part dualism. :P
HaleyMary 2 years ago