4 ms·

If there were no objects in the Universe, only free space, would gravity exist? I don't know what to make of a hypothetical like that. It seems nonsensical, ju

If there were no objects in the Universe, only free space, would gravity exist? I don't know what to make of a hypothetical like that. It seems nonsensical, just like a universe without light, or the absence of a universe, the concept of pure emptiness or nothingness. We can't conceive of these scenarios because they preclude our own existence and ability to conceive of anything. Anyway, I'm not sure what you're driving at...was the comment left unfinished for some sort of meta purpose?

ZenoArrow 11y ago
> "Anyway, I'm not sure what you're driving at...was the comment left unfinished for some sort of meta purpose?" Sorry about that, it wasn't my intention. Sometimes I'll leave a post half finished when I'm looking up a link because my phone's web browser has a habit of erasing partially complete comments when I change tabs, so my only reliable option is to post what I have before I'm ready. In this case I took longer than I thought I would to look up a link for you. I won't promise it won't happen again, but I'll try to make what I'm doing clearer next time. To see the opposite to nihilism, let's first look at interconnectedness. What are your thoughts on the ideas in this video? http://youtu.be/HM31KBLRQTg http://youtu.be/HM31KBLRQTg
- resu_nimda 11y ago
  I agree with those ideas, and they are pretty consistent with monist philosophy. I often think of life as one big unbroken chain, one system, and then that of course extends to the planet, solar system, galaxy, and so on. The fact that I "consciously" view myself as a "human" living a "lifetime" is just a very curious phenomenon, the illusion I mentioned. I don't see it as the opposite of nihilism, it's two sides of the same coin. When you take it to such an extreme, things break down. Is there no meaning, or is everything meaningful? What's the difference?
  - ZenoArrow 11y ago
    > "I don't see it as the opposite of nihilism, it's two sides of the same coin." Two sides of the same coin is the opposite! Using rough definitions, nihilism is that nothing matters, the opposite (which I don't have a name for) is that everything matters. Taken further, this interconnectedness means that we are all the universe, we are all God. I'd recommend checking out more Alan Watts videos to have this explained better, he looks at it in various ways. Here are a couple of short ones, though I'd recommend his longer talks (I think the music often found on the shorter ones can detract from the clarity of the message sometimes): http://youtu.be/ssf7P-Sgcrk http://youtu.be/ssf7P-Sgcrk http://youtu.be/mMRrCYPxD0I http://youtu.be/mMRrCYPxD0I
    - resu_nimda 11y ago
      It's just a matter of interpretation. Yes, heads and tails are opposites, but it's still one coin. :) The idiom implies a similarity or close relationship between the two. Functionally, in terms of how you go about your life, what is the difference between these "opposite" philosophies? I'll check out the videos but my guess is I have already incorporated the ideas.

ZenoArrow 11y ago

> "Anyway, I'm not sure what you're driving at...was the comment left unfinished for some sort of meta purpose?" Sorry about that, it wasn't my intention. Sometimes I'll leave a post half finished when I'm looking up a link because my phone's web browser has a habit of erasing partially complete comments when I change tabs, so my only reliable option is to post what I have before I'm ready. In this case I took longer than I thought I would to look up a link for you. I won't promise it won't happen again, but I'll try to make what I'm doing clearer next time. To see the opposite to nihilism, let's first look at interconnectedness. What are your thoughts on the ideas in this video? http://youtu.be/HM31KBLRQTg http://youtu.be/HM31KBLRQTg

resu_nimda 11y ago
I agree with those ideas, and they are pretty consistent with monist philosophy. I often think of life as one big unbroken chain, one system, and then that of course extends to the planet, solar system, galaxy, and so on. The fact that I "consciously" view myself as a "human" living a "lifetime" is just a very curious phenomenon, the illusion I mentioned. I don't see it as the opposite of nihilism, it's two sides of the same coin. When you take it to such an extreme, things break down. Is there no meaning, or is everything meaningful? What's the difference?
- ZenoArrow 11y ago
  > "I don't see it as the opposite of nihilism, it's two sides of the same coin." Two sides of the same coin is the opposite! Using rough definitions, nihilism is that nothing matters, the opposite (which I don't have a name for) is that everything matters. Taken further, this interconnectedness means that we are all the universe, we are all God. I'd recommend checking out more Alan Watts videos to have this explained better, he looks at it in various ways. Here are a couple of short ones, though I'd recommend his longer talks (I think the music often found on the shorter ones can detract from the clarity of the message sometimes): http://youtu.be/ssf7P-Sgcrk http://youtu.be/ssf7P-Sgcrk http://youtu.be/mMRrCYPxD0I http://youtu.be/mMRrCYPxD0I
  - resu_nimda 11y ago
    It's just a matter of interpretation. Yes, heads and tails are opposites, but it's still one coin. :) The idiom implies a similarity or close relationship between the two. Functionally, in terms of how you go about your life, what is the difference between these "opposite" philosophies? I'll check out the videos but my guess is I have already incorporated the ideas.