Response to Existentialistcat: Existentialism [Closed Captioned]

[TheJovanist]

funny!

[jeromyrutter]

the problem is of relativity and consciousness. i have a unified field of vision where i relate myself to other objects, and those objects to other objects. we assume because of that unified field of vision that things are interelated when it is we that serve as nexi experientiae. we begin with "myself" and that "thing" verses that other "thing". they have nothing in common, but we see them in a single vision, which has a time disparity...the completion of perception and processing, post facto.

[jeromyrutter]

i ask about infinity because of your reference to space-time. einstein sought to find a theory of everything...as if it were unified. anything finite is held within something else, my cup in my house, my house in the atmosphere...all we really have is infinite expansion. and even if the universe is a whole, it is held by nothing...we turn to heidegger. what is nothing? we cannot give it attributes. why does infinite nothingness hold a pocket of something?

[jeromyrutter]

it's my opinion that the paradox is born because the mind itself is paradoxical. imagine a god existing in an abyss: it utters to itself "where did i come from?" who is it asking? how can it know where it came from if it doesn't know where it is now? is there a correct answer? among every possible scenerio it can think up, is the correct answer even present? we ASSUME there is an answer, but, unfortunately, every answer only creates new questions...it never ends. where would one place infinity?

[09jake12]

Is there a way to reconcile the conflicts between determinism and free will? Is there a paradox here as well which demonstrates a balanced completeness between the two? I would really appreciate it if you could make a video explaining this, I have been having some trouble grappling with this one.

[TheFaustianMan]

@09jake12 That is a tough one. I'll give it some thought, and if I can arrive at something I'll make a video on it. But it's just a weighty matter, it will be far off in the future, unless inspiration strikes.

[Sconz32]

People who sacrifice themselves for the sake of others are few and far between, bro.

[TheFaustianMan]

@Sconz32 Thanks for commenting!

[peacelily64]

@Sconz32 some peeps...feel good from helping others It gives them a purpose not so much from the ego but from the heart....it makes them feel ...

[natedaug1]

Good video, but there really are not many American existentialist. America was much more analytic than continental.

[vladislav0202]

wow.. excellent point on the explanation of a paradox in an any given system.. I've never really thought of it like that before, so Cheers to you for disclosing it! The first thing I though of was the dichotomy paradox by Aristotle.

Great post!

[TheFaustianMan]

Hello,

Thanks for the comment! Nice work on referencing the dichotomy paradox too!

Cheers!

[hidgee]

what about german philosophy? Kierkgaard and heidigger?

[TheFaustianMan]

And, I always saw Kierkegaard as more moving away from existentialism and in an entirely different direction, although you are right, he is a major figure in existentialism. I am unfamiliar with Heidegger. I chose a German scientist who used a theory similar to German existentialism.

German existentialism, to me, seems to be in line with the French point of view, minus the absurdity. Similar to the what Oedipus espouses in then end of Oedipus Rex

Thanks for commenting!

[joshisnot11]

Colossal douche.

[omocorp]

I happened across this a second time. I especially liked the french philosopher bit--"the occasional orgasm"--LMAO. Do you do any acting? I think you'd be really good at it.

[TheFaustianMan]

hahaha. Thanks. Never did any acting.

[Mistafiedreamz]

"The needs of the many out weight the needs of the one." Or is it maybe the reverse?

"The needs of the one, out weight the needs of the many."

[ArjunaMysterytramp]

You are incredible insightful and I enjoy your demeanor, there is a calmness about you that is soothing much like existentialist cat...

[TheFaustianMan]

Thank you for your comment.

[omocorp]

very amusing.

[TheFaustianMan]

Thank you! And thank you for commenting!

[jonnniefivemiles]

Godel's incompleteness theorems (that you allude to) do not show that paradoxes are the "hallmark" of "complete systems" in this context imo. First, they do not apply to human behavior as humans are prone to mistakes and inconsistency. Secondly, their purpose is not to qualify completeness with containing paradoxes. Thirdly, the proof for these theorems is not universally accepted among logicians or mathematicians.

See James R Meyer for a strong refutation of Godel's central proof.

[TheFaustianMan]

Thank you for your post, I will to look up James.

You use the painters premise in your argument. Assuming I must accept humans making "mistakes/inconsistency"

In "Apparent Intention in the Fate of the Individual," Schopenhauer points out that when you reach an advanced age and look back over your lifetime, it can seem to have had a consistent order and plan, as though composed by some novelist.

[TheFaustianMan]

Events that when they occurred had seemed accidental and of little moment turn out to have been indispensable factors in the composition of a consistent plot.

I am not of that age yet, however when I will get there then I'll let you know. ;)

If, Hofstadter can use Godel Escher and Bach, "and discuss how self-reference and formal rules allow systems to acquire meaning despite being made of 'meaningless' elements."

[TheFaustianMan]

Thus, I believe it is only natural for me to take it one step further and, Godel does fit nicely into existentialism.

However, if we would like to pour intellectual concrete we can all read Principia Mathematica. I am probably just the type of person they made those volumes for.

[jonnniefivemiles]

I like Schopenhauer. A lot. However, I don't think it would be fair to say that he would deny the inconsistency and mistake-prone nature of human behavior, in its own terms or at least in the context of formal mathematics and praxeology.

Whether or not one sees some consistency or seeming underlying principle in retrospect is another matter. We don't live in retrospect - we live in the present.

That said, are even (or especially) the greatest novels truly consistent or without mistake?

[TheFaustianMan]

Excellent and difficult questions. I will answer the easiest first, as I am still refining my answer to the second part of your questions.

Yes, actually Shopenhauer viewed animals and man as essentially the same thing. As

manifestations of "will".

I found two quotes for you, one is:

Nothing leads more definitely to a recognition

of the identity of the essential nature in animal and human phenomena than a study of zoology and anatomy

And the other is:

[TheFaustianMan]

Schopenhauer referred to anecdotal reports of

the look in the eyes of a monkey who had been

shot and also the grief of a baby elephant

whose mother had been killed by a hunter.

More to come tonight...

[existentialistcat]

Verrrry interesting! I have never heard about the idea that all complete systems have paradoxes, but intuitively it seems true.

More questions on the first part! So are we one with animals too well according to him? If a man risks his life (which may lead to not being able to raise his children or see his wife again), then isn't he simply putting an inflated value on a stranger's life? Or is it that being alive is more valuable than having a father?

Awesome video response, thanks!

[TheFaustianMan]

Interesting question I don't know exactly how to explain this, because "the man" may seem either selfish or uncaring. However, ultimately, I believe, when the moment arrives one loses the notion of temporal identity (what it says on Driver's License,if you will) and moves past to a transpersonal experience. The only example I can think of is when Dante sees the beatific vision of Beatirce behind the trinity, influencing everything.

[TheFaustianMan]

"the man" and "the stranger" are the same, in a period of atonement or "at-one-ment" as some have said. He is rescuing himself from great peril, but not his temporal self. The only other example I can think of is: You often hear of people saying, "if it had been me" or "if it had been my son" well that's well after the moment is over. Yet, during that moment that other IS the one and the same.

Great topic! And thanks for the questions.

[Mistafiedreamz]

Shall I treat you as an Adult or as a child? See Kimberly, I have already changed your minds, There is no question of that. It is you and your friends who continue to assume who I am, and what is going on. Now unless you have been following me since 2005 or lets go back too 2001. You and most people would not have all the information on me. Now how could you have all the data about me? The silly games your groupie are running now is not going to work, and nothing new.

[Mistafiedreamz]

The Choice is going to be yours Killer Bee. Continue to Kill me and think about what you have lost or what might have been. Or grow up and act like adults.

And your Birthday is coming real soon too.

Happy Birthday Kim.

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