World, Writing, Wealth discussion
The Lounge: Chat. Relax. Unwind.
>
Unresolved existential questions
date
newest »
newest »
There's a huge number of issues. How to reward people fairly? How to coordinate a response to a long-term future crisis? (I am thinking things like climate change here.) How to handle certain limited resources? How to govern? Those sort of questions are the basis of some of my futuristic novels, but the answers I provide are deliberately flawed because of plot requirements.In terms of physics, exactly what do quantum field theorists think a field is? Why are excitations of it infinitely lived? (Don't expect any answers to that either any time soon.)
More impenetrable questions available on demand. Answers in real short supply :-)
I don't think it's ever been answered why packs of hotdogs and packs of hotdog buns come in different quantities...
1. What is thought in terms of AI research. The Turing test is part of the answer but can an AI truly think as opposed to follow a complex set of rules and probabilities.2. We already have Douglas Adams' answers to the ultimate question 42 I believe.
3. If God exists what the hell is it doing?
4. If we have dark matter does light matter and what about grey?
5. Why is there never enough ammunition?
6. ...and possibly the ultimate questions of our time what and why is Trump? If he did not exist would we have to invent him?
Disagree with Philip. The current US policy suggests there is no overall shortage of ammunition :-)
Why do the negative things people say to us have so much more impact than the positive ones? One "You're stupid" stays with us much longer than one "You're smart" comment.
Um, Nik, what is the question?? What does it look like?
Something that you'd want to know the most!Like if there is god? Or who would win the midterms in Uruguay maybe?-:)
Uruguay has mid-terms? Now I would never have guessed that :-)
Philip wrote: "1. What is thought in terms of AI research. The Turing test is part of the answer but can an AI truly think as opposed to follow a complex set of rules and probabilities.
2. We already have Dougla..."
My answer to question #3 (If God exists what the hell is it doing?): Probably sitting on his ass, watching us and wondering why he created Mankind.
My answer to question #4 (If we have dark matter does light matter (exist) and what about grey?): I suspect that God's answer to that would be 'I don't know and I don't give a s..t! Live with it!
My answer to question #5 (Why is there never enough ammunition?): As per the Murphy's Laws of Combat, 'when you are short of everything except enemies, then you are in combat.'
My answer to question #6 (what and why is Trump? If he did not exist would we have to invent him?): God's answer to that: 'I don't know and I don't give a s..t! Go ask Lucifer!'.
2. We already have Dougla..."
My answer to question #3 (If God exists what the hell is it doing?): Probably sitting on his ass, watching us and wondering why he created Mankind.
My answer to question #4 (If we have dark matter does light matter (exist) and what about grey?): I suspect that God's answer to that would be 'I don't know and I don't give a s..t! Live with it!
My answer to question #5 (Why is there never enough ammunition?): As per the Murphy's Laws of Combat, 'when you are short of everything except enemies, then you are in combat.'
My answer to question #6 (what and why is Trump? If he did not exist would we have to invent him?): God's answer to that: 'I don't know and I don't give a s..t! Go ask Lucifer!'.
If there is God, how can he answer, "I don't know"?
Ian wrote: "If there is God, how can he answer, "I don't know"?"
That should be a clue about what I think of the notion of 'God', Ian. That also happens to be a joke.
That should be a clue about what I think of the notion of 'God', Ian. That also happens to be a joke.
Michel, I hope you would also permit me the odd jocular response
I was thinking about this when watching the movie Hostiles about the conflict in 1892 between advancing American forces and Native Americans. Is it a fact of human nature always to want more?
Scout wrote: "I was thinking about this when watching the movie Hostiles about the conflict in 1892 between advancing American forces and Native Americans. Is it a fact of human nature always to want more?"
Scout, I think that Humans started to want more the day that they were able to satisfy fully their basic survival needs (food, water, shelter, clothing). Ambition and greed has been with us ever since.
Scout, I think that Humans started to want more the day that they were able to satisfy fully their basic survival needs (food, water, shelter, clothing). Ambition and greed has been with us ever since.
Does greed (wanting more) drive most politicians? Is there such a thing as a selfless politician?
Scout wrote: "Does greed (wanting more) drive most politicians? Is there such a thing as a selfless politician?"There should be selfless politicians, doctors and others, but would sponsors support a selfless dude or consider him/her a little too independent? And as we know - no money nobody knows about how beautifully selfless you are. Many systems (political, economic, societal, sportive, etc) are often built in such a way that flawed characters have much higher chances in reaching the top than the virtuous ones..
Nik, since the topic is existential questions, and given the last sentence in your post, perhaps the question that needs answering is, is being virtuous a flaw?
Being virtuous is ideal, unfortunately our world isn't. Very often virtuousness is a lie 'sold' to the flock so they'll obey and play by the rules, while those who want achievements, success, control, domination, care less about it and apply what's instrumental for their ambitions. Those who write the laws do it for others to comply. However, saints and super sinners are unrealistic and a good overall amount of virtuous points is something of value
Let's just say that politicians may begin by being selfless, but soon learn that surviving in the system comes at a cost (to the public).
Here's an existential question: As humans, do we have a visceral response to beauty?
Feels like we do - be it in art, nature or another human.
Scout wrote: "Here's an existential question: As humans, do we have a visceral response to beauty?"
Men and teenage boys certainly do (towards female beauty)! Thus the popular saying that 'men think with their dicks'.
Men and teenage boys certainly do (towards female beauty)! Thus the popular saying that 'men think with their dicks'.
Is beautiful = sexy or it's just one variation? -:)
Just a variation. A small baby or toddler can be beautiful but isn't what you would call 'sexy'.
I was just wondering if there's something in our genetic code that makes us respond to beauty. I feel something when I see a beautiful sunset or sunrise or painting, a storm on the ocean, a rose, a butterfly. What makes us reluctant to kill a butterfly and okay with using a worm for bait? Are we genetically programmed to see beauty and favor it?
I fear ugly may become a new beautiful.What's your existential ? at the moment/ever?
We instinctively know what's beautiful. Some may choose ugly. One is positive, one negative. And that's not dependent on external characteristics, but also on innate ones.
Mathematical list is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of... , but that's only one discipline.
Minds, as more things in life, sometimes go after the money: arguably hi-tech and biotech attracting most talented students and scholars, but we need them back on core issues rather than concentrated on narrow one-step advances.
So, please, provide your serious and less so questions that need resolution, as well as your attempts to answer them, be they about the meaning of life, black holes, state budget, interpersonal relations or anything you deem unresolved!