Life, the Universe, and all that shizzle.

I just watched this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEheh1BH34Q&feature=related and it got me thinking.

Not about anything in particular, just - big stuff. Big questions. Why are we here? Are we here for a purpose? Do we even have a choice in the way our lives turn out or is it all part of one huge pre-scripted cosmic sitcom? What is reality? What is life? Science tells us that to qualify as a lifeform it must feed, breathe, grow, and reproduce... so is fire a lifeform? Is there a God, in any form? Is world peace possible? And if it was, would humanity reject it because it'd be bastard boring?

Anyway, this is a thread for any intellectually-frustrating questions or thoughts you might have that we can discuss.

I'll kick off with one I already know the answer to.
"Why did I bother starting a thread that will last less than three pages?"
"F**k knows.".

Someone needs some LSD, stat.

Quote: Lee Henman @ August 12 2010, 3:03 AM BST

Why are we here? Are we here for a purpose?

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I think any 'purpose' only has a meaning in relation to some specific aim. So I type these keys to make these words on the screen. But beyond that, ultimately these words will not matter, and I think life is like that; we might live it to 'have fun', or to raise the universe's consciousness, or to serve the great Lord or whatever, but beyond that, at some level it all doesn't matter. I can't imagine any 'purpose' which really matters.

Quote: Lee Henman @ August 12 2010, 3:03 AM BST

Do we even have a choice in the way our lives turn out or is it all part of one huge pre-scripted cosmic sitcom?

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The latter, according to this woman. There is cause and effect, and we might like to think we make things happen, but we never had any choice (if she's right) http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/Articles/jcs02.htm

Quote: Lee Henman @ August 12 2010, 3:03 AM BST

Science tells us that to qualify as a lifeform it must feed, breathe, grow, and reproduce... so is fire a lifeform?

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No, because it doesn't mutate.

Quote: Lee Henman @ August 12 2010, 3:03 AM BST

Is world peace possible?

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Yes, if there weren't many of us, or we all had enough distance between ourselves.

Quote: Lee Henman @ August 12 2010, 3:03 AM BST

And if it was, would humanity reject it because it'd be bastard boring?

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"War, huh? What is it good for?" It turns out, Quite A Few Things. Think how technology has advanced in times of war. Our space programme came out of WW2, and if we faced planetary catastrophe, it might only be our ability to get off-world that saves us all.

Nogget has pretty much answered it.

I think though, our views can be based only upon what we know now. In the 14th Century Nogget's answer would have been very different.

In the 25th Century it may be different again.

-----------------------------------------------

Here's one:

Is the Universe infinite?

If so, how?

If not, what's on the other side at the end of it?

http://www.epsilonminus.com/darquedungeon/

Lee the whole universe all the billions years of history, the trillion wide space of empty blackness, the impossbely vast stars.

All this exists for the soul purpose. That you the tiniest most temporary speck can aske these questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_J5rBxeTIk&feature=related

Do you know any black hole jokes?

Personally, I'm not that keen on senseless slaughter, but in the context of the OP, I felt obliged to advocate whatever possible benefits war may have brought us.

Seriously though when you start to think about it, it can do your head in.

Time has been forever - so when did it start?

And space goes on forever so where does it end? And if it does end what's on the other side?

My brain hurts.

Yeah, I tend not to think about it too much. Makes me go a bit mental trying to imagine forever or infinity.

Quote: zooo @ August 12 2010, 4:51 PM BST

Yeah, I tend not to think about it too much. Makes me go a bit mental trying to imagine forever or infinity.

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My brain doesn't work well enough to bother with any 'big questions', so I just think about cats instead.

That one I can manage.

The only 'big' thing that really boggles my mind is the concept of nothing. What if we were not here, never here, never created? Would there be any form of consciousness anywhere? Timeless?

Quote: Griff @ August 12 2010, 4:55 PM BST

Schrodinger's cat?

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Hasn't the RSPCA looked into that poor moggy yet.

Quote: Aaron @ August 12 2010, 5:07 PM BST

The only 'big' thing that really boggles my mind is the concept of nothing. What if we were not here, never here, never created? Would there be any form of consciousness anywhere? Timeless?

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Isn't this the BCG you're describing?

Got any small change, mate?

Oh sorry, I'm indoors now..