But our consciousness is part of the universe. — EugeneW

How can you prove that?
For me, those are clearly separated of each other

Yes, but only in our consciousness. Not in the universe's one. Because the universe itself is timeless, space less and limitless

But it does exist for us because we created the concept of "time" but probably, the time itself doesn't exist in the universe. We are just walking through it

Sounds pretty boring, doesn't it? — magritte

It sounds interesting as hell that universe could be timeless because this can means that the concept of "time" itself is just a human concept or... A limit one

We can only know what we should/could do if we know when everything started on the beginning :flower: :up:
If you think so closely, you would check a lot of theories so the results are not necessarily the same

Well, I think it is interesting debate about the origin of everything... If is it matters? Why not

Ever heard of General Systems Theory??

No, I never heard about this theory. What's about?

Yes! :up: I personally think is the most reasonable theory. Nevertheless, I respect the others points of views

Interesting poll indeed :up:

The universe is an infinite cycle of expansion and contraction. The beginning is equal to the end. — Benj96

This is the theory which I stand for. But, instead of considering "equal" the beginning and the end, I see it as the one/unique movement/power which is concentrated in itself. Greeks usted to debate a lot of Alpha (beginning) Omega (the end). I like the point where it is defended that one of the most characteristic acts in the human nature are "born" and "die", thus, "beginning" and "end"
Universe is infinite, we humans are just passing through until our extinction.

Factum est: ego sum alpha et omega, initium et finis.
It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. :flower:

Is it true/false? Whatever the case, Kierkegaard has some very interesting ideas — Merkwurdichliebe

I thought the same whenever I was taking part in this thread. Kierkegaard is one of the most important philosophers ever. His existentialism is very important to get along in some personal issues. Apart from his ideas, the personal life of Kierkegaard is interesting too and we can see what he was suffering back in the day to write all his essays later on. My favorite work of him is "the concept of anxiety" but I am looking for a good edition of "fear and trembling"

Remember when the lunatics mobbed the stores and horded all the toilet paper and water? — Merkwurdichliebe

Oh yes... We were run out of stock because of their negligence. When I saw this situation I thought: "the humans are not ready to face a catastrophic situation"

.

Yes, it is unbelievable. Two years ago everything was messed up due to Covid. In just 24 months we normalize the situation and it looks like is no longer a problem

And notice how those ex-Soviet countries in the EU (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) have performed against their former Soviet counterparts — ssu

Good one! :100: :up:

Greece and Spain are now debtors prisons and fascism is on the rise across the continent. — StreetlightX

No. You are just obsessed of classify everything in economics and GDP. Did you know the French GDP is more indebted that Spain's one?
You don't know anything about my country and do not speak please.
But, as @jamalrob said, it is better to stay in the topic.

Sorry.

I blame the parents. — unenlightened

Santa Klaus doesn't exist! :rofl:

How and when did NATO threaten Putin and Russia? — Christoffer

I personally think he felt threatened by NATO when a country close to him wants to be part of the alliance. This exactly happens with Georgia in 2008. It is true that expressly there is not a clear threat against Russia. But they feel like that because NATO is the western and for Russia these are always the enemies so they will never let satellite countries be part of it. It is sad but for Russia, countries like Ukraine or Georgia are just puppets to play with. They do not see it as sovereign states.
As we shared previously, Soviet nostalgia

I think the issue here is the model of NATO. Sometimes it seems to be only related towards USA. This is why some countries as Finland was sceptical about joining. We, the Western, do not have anything against the NATO but it is true they tend to use, hmm... propaganda about empowering the Western block.
As the European Commissioner Josep Borell said: "it is time to build an European army. But this principle is not necessary against NATO alliance,"

We can't see the image
Try to upload the image at imgur, then share it with us through the BBC forum link provided to you.

And what exactly is the meaningful difference between such a hypothetical website and cartoon/animated child porn? — Xanatos

It depends on each one's pleasures. Belive it or not, there are persons who feel sexually attracted to cartoons. Remember there is a class of porn called "hentai" where it is looks like anime but it shows sexual acts. So, I do not see any difference between a cartoon and real actors. It is just porn.
You are asking if it could be justified a cartoon porn with children involved or something related.
Keep in mind that this issue also depends on each state's legislation. Do you consider a kid when she is already 16 years old? This is an interesting debate indeed.
My opinion: it would depend on maturity not age. We don't have to be blind and accept that there are teenagers with only 15/16 years that already had sex. So, if they understand it, then they are allowed to do porn. I don't see it as lewd because they are young.

Never Let Me Go (Ishiguro), — 180 Proof

This one sounds so interesting. I will check it out. Are you referring to Kazuo Ishiguro (カズオ・イシグロ) right? The Nobel Prize of 2017.

Thank you for your commitment, Jack. It clarified a bit more this interesting case. I want to quote the following phrase you shared:

considered philosophy as a diversion, one which merits little more attention than a crossword puzzle.

It seems to have another mystery inside itself

:up: :flower:

Thank you, Tom. Appreciated your words. I think depression is the worst illness in our era. My mother and me take some medication to palliate depression. I even think that this could be related to inherited DNA. I know this sounds quite personal but I am here for already a year so I feel closer.
In my personal case, depression came to my life because I was bullied in school. Since then, I always have lack of life motivation and it has been difficult to make friends and live a normal youth life.
But this exactly issue was lived by my mother in the same way... It is incredible.
As you said, if we do not take the medication we tend to have suicidal thoughts and it is a big mess...

This is why I got angry with the users previously. They thought depression was related to something structural instead of personal. Like dude I do not take pills because I love it!

Jack, it is so interesting the conversation between Popper and Wittgenstein you shared with us. Do you know where I can read more of this event?
I am not sure of the significance but we have to keep in mind that philosophers tended to use a lot of metaphors when they were debating. Wittgenstein's pocket could be another metaphor related to how he always interpreted philosophy in his own.

As I recall, you were the one who Washington against me view:
1. I said that depression has also inner aspects to take care of.
2. I shared an academic paper of Harvard explaining it, but you do not like it.
Then, you started to laugh at me and denigrate my dignity.
But now you say:

have yet to convince even a single moral relativist to chill out and figure out why they're so intolerant of intelligent discourse but at least I tried (without just getting angry at you) so I call that a win in my personal growth. — SkyLeach

Do you know what do you excess of? hypocrisy

Factum est: ego sum alpha et omega, initium et finis.
It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Eugene, would you really let us down because you do not want to share your intelligence? I am disappointed... you said you were the best at neuroscience previously.
You speak speak with such rotundity that it looks like you are the best...

Do you know what do you lack of? modesty

Cannot believe if you have such knowdlege why you are not teaching or sharing it. You are selfish, dude.

I see your point,Christoffer. I am somehow agree with you. But what I tried to explain with you is that there are some countries which use the "democracy" just for economicall interests. They cheat. While Ukraine wants to protect their history and sovereignty, Catalonia just wants to be a tax heaven being apart from Spain. I see a huge difference in terms of "democracy" or "reestructure" the maps.

You both are nominated to Nobel prize of medicine. Congratulations.

This is what the Catalonia Parliament has been voting for, to be set apart from Spain. But that didn't happen. — Christoffer

Those fools only vote for their own selfishness. Trust me, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine are far away from Spain-Catalonia context. My country has always been so soft towards Catalonia

That's the cause of depression. It's not that the imbalance is caused by some internal defect, but more an external defect. — EugeneW

You wrote previously:

It's not caused by an imbalance of chemicals, neurotransmitters, or whatever. — EugeneW

Harvard analysts:

Rather, many chemicals are involved, working both inside and outside nerve cells. — javi2541997

So, I do not understand why you keep refusing the inner effects

In current society, depression is a naturally reaction to unnatural circumstances. It's not caused by an imbalance of chemicals, neurotransmitters, or whatever. — EugeneW

Are you really sure of such statement? According to Harvard Health Publishing (HHP) :

To be sure, chemicals are involved in this process [depression], but it is not a simple matter of one chemical being too low and another too high. Rather, many chemicals are involved, working both inside and outside nerve cells. There are millions, even billions, of chemical reactions that make up the dynamic system that is responsible for your mood, perceptions, and how you experience life.

Just for a few members of a neo-nazi command you do not have to bomb all Ukrainian cities... I think we are mixing up some issues here.
Those "nazis" fight in the invaded area by Russians. They are like militias. Nothing related to an average citizen.
In the other hand, we have a population dying in their houses because Putin does not recognize the Ukranian sovereignity. I think this is the worst part

"Those who must convince everyone that their religion, ideology, political persuasion, or philosophical theory is the only one worth having." This would explain why you are having so much trouble here. This thread is long but I wouldn't interpret that as popular. — Monitor

Good reply :up: :100:

Dear friends, I want to quote and share this phrase of Yukio Mishima. (三島 由紀夫) with you:

The Japanese have always been a people with a severe awareness of death. But the Japanese concept of death is pure and clear, and in that sense it is different from death as something disgusting and terrible as it is perceived by Westerners. :death: :fire:

Bret, I am jealous of how you see the life of long term distance. I am more existentialist (Kierkegaardian) on my own.
I think life is liveable when it is really worthy. It not depends on life expectancy

I'm not a romantic or nearly as nostalgic as you seem to be — 180 Proof

Oh! But nostalgia is one of the most beautiful feelings of humans ever. It seems to be poetic and philosophical. Remember the classic Latin phrase: tempus fugit :flower:

I was not referring to God. I was speaking about the entity itself. This is why I guess it is better formulated as: "How can I find out one?" in the sense of finding "something" or "someone".
I was not referring to God as the "one"

No, your second sentence is wrong — Joe Mello

Why? Excuse me, with all my purest respect, are you an English professor or linguist?