Ten Philosophical Questions

Top Ten Philosophical Questions

Driving back from spring break I got to thinking about the eminent philosophical questions. Here’s a top-ten list I came up with (it’s lemming focused, of course).

1. Why is there something rather than nothing at all?

Needless to say if there was nothing at all we would not exist. But besides this it is necessary for there to be something in order for reality to exist. Also, if there where no reality we would not be asking this question because doing so would require something (e.g. us) to exist.

Although I feel I have answered this question you may not believe the same. Personally this question seems like it could not be adequately answered because one cannot know what 'nothing' is like because everything is something. In reality we lack the experience to fully grasp the answer to this question, if any exists.

2. If two persons who have all the same experiences disagree about some matter of fact has at least one of them violated some rule of good reasoning?

Although experiences do shape people they do not necessarily define them. If two people have the same experience one may use it to make them stronger and the other may be weakened or hurt by the experience. This being said neither of the two persons described in the question would be violating any rule of good reasoning. A more valid question would be 'If two persons who have had all the same experinces and taken them the same way disagree about some matter of fact has at least one of them violated some rule of good reasoning?'. I do believe that one would be violating a rule of good reasoning, although this scenario is neigh impossible.

3. If two distinct objects have something in common then in what ways are they the same and different?

If two distinct objects have something in common then in what ways are they the same and different?
The fact that two things are similar, or in other words have something in common, does not make them identical. Therefore the differences between two similar objects would be everything about them that is not the same. For example, two similar triangles may look like one another but they are not the same size, ergo they are not the same, but they are proportional to each other.

4. Since my acts are caused by my choices and my choices caused by my beliefs and desires and my beliefs and desires are not in my direct control, how can it be that my acts are free?

What you believe in is your choice, what you want is your choice also. Your desires, however, are more difficult to choose but most of them exist because of some choice of yours. An act is is the result of a choice and a choice is a result of thought. You can do whatever you want but that does not mean you will. You beliefs and desires affect what you do because you want to be inline with what you believe and you want to get closer to what you want but your acts are still your own, although they are being affected by other forces.

5. When we say ‘Pegasus does not exist’ what subject are we talking about?

Talking about something does not cause it to exist, the idea of that thing may exist but that does not cause it to spontaneously come into existence. For example, I could talk to someone about Norse mythology, or any other fictional work, but that doesn't mean that I believe that any of it is true or that it exists I am simply discussing an idea that someone thought of. Therefore, the answer to your question would be that we would be talking about Pegasus, not as a material being, but as a thought that was created by the ancient Greek people.

6. Is what is good good because the gods commanded it or did the gods command it because it was good? (Alt: Are the things that are valuable, valuable because we value them or do we value them because they are valuable?)

The answer to this question is both, what is good is good not only good because the gods commanded it but because it is good. The gods commanded it so it it good, but they commanded it because it is good. The answer to the second question is both. The things we value are valuable not only because we value them but because they are valuable, otherwise we wouldn't value them.

7. Must there be some basic element of reality from which everything else is composed?

Everything has to be made of something, and because of this, yes, there must be a basic element of reality of which everything else is composed. Suppose you wanted to build a chair. What would you use to build that chair? Legs, a seat, perhaps some additional cross pieces for additional strength. But what are those made of? Wood or metal? Then what is that material composed of? Everything is built upon something so there must be some basic element of reality that cannot be split apart, because a chair a a combination of parts and the parts of that chair can be split apart and changed and are therefore a combination of particles.

8. Does time have a beginning?

No.

9. If I think of a being greater than which none can be conceived must this being exist?

No, just because you think of something it does not bring it into existence. The ability to do that is reserved for God and even he must say something for it to become reality.

10. Since minds have properties natural objects lack, how can minds be a part of nature?

The mind exists, scientifically speaking, because of the brain. The brain's function causes your mind to exist. In other words, your brain and your mind are the same thing. Minds are part of nature because they are a part of every living thing in nature. In any case the mind had no effect on nature unless the body it resides in decides to act. Furthermore, the mind is not an object, it is a process that allows living things to process information and make decisions.

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