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http://www.ghg.net/phf/philosophy_freelover/theory_of_matter_and_time.htm
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At some point in time, I began to recognize myself
as a viable entity. At no point in time will I know
oblivion. Knowledge of oblivion is impossible.
When was that? That point in time when I began
to recognize myself as a viable entity? Well, it
wasn't when I, the sperm, fertilized the egg and
it wasn't when I, the egg, was fertilized. It wasn't
when I swam around in the pre-birth soup and
it wasn't when I was born as I have no memory
of those experiences.
Some vague memory of dirty diapers comes to
mind so perhaps that was it as I had been told not
to dirty my diapers but as to when that was, exactly,
in my progression into life's "reality" I really don't
know.
Anyway, back to the rest of us, 6 billion or so
of us at latest count, each of us with absolute
knowledge of one thing and one thing only, each
of us knowing that the individual, the self, is a
viable entity (that is, each of us who has reached
that vague point in time defined as self-awareness /
consciousness).
As we progress through our lives, each of us
has a prime concern - perpetuation of self - and
associated concerns - mating (it has been estimated
that the "average" human male mates with 6 females
and the "average" human female mates with 2 males
in their lifetimes, for what that's worth) - care for
our mates - care for our offspring - fun or religion
or preparation for a supposed afterlife or education
or career or whatever takes up our waking hours.
Don't you ever ponder how animal-like and how
mundane most of our existences are? I mean,
really, we try to spin our existence into something
of meaning, of purpose, of value (for it is in our
self-interest to do so) but when it comes down to
it, we're little more than fish in a pond, dogs in a
pound, ants on a mound, apes most profound,
diddling our lives away in meaningless meanderings
of no lasting value whatsoever in this vast universe
of ours.
Rather glum, that point of view, but as hard as I try,
I cannot spin it any other way. Does that mean it's
time to give it all up? Of course not. Just because
it really has no meaning other than something which
occupies space and time for a brief instant, I can
think of no better pass time than to ponder its
relevance, to enjoy the experience as much as is
possible given the constraints of social and religious
influences, and to endeavor to extend it in a pleasant
way for as long as possible.
What other rational choice is there? I mean, after all,
to acknowledge the absurdity of it all and to end it
prematurely is but to waste the one opportunity each
of us has to make a dent in whatever it is that encap-
sulates our lonely journey through the abyss.
And no, surrounding it with myth and worship does not
add to the experience nor does it diminish the absurdity
of it all. I submit that myth and worship, in fact, increases
the absurdity and makes fools of those that follow such
endeavors.
But then again, if it's all so very pointless all we're left with
is but to max out the experience in the short time each of
us has as sentient beings then I submit that religion falls
so very short of doing that as it sucks the very life out of
the only sure life that each of us has. Certainly, it must be
viewed as a crime against humanity, the waste of lives
that so futile a gesture enslaves humankind in.
But back to the theory of matter and time . . . obviously,
each of us sprang into consciousness through no miracle
other than the progression of matter into a form which
responds to light and stimuli for awhile. Now, is the
response to light and stimuli of matter on this planet any
more significant than the twirling of billions of orbs and
galaxies around one another thoughout the universe
based on the laws of gravity?
Does any matter really matter? Is time of any importance
when juxtaposed against the vastness of forever? What
is one second to forever when compared to 1 billion
years to forever? The same. Matter and time do not
matter. Our brief split second on this world are of no
consequence whatsoever. That is not to say that a few
of us won't make a difference to those who follow us.
But, ponder this, chances are, all 6 billion of us may be
stone cold dead in 2200 and 5,999,995,000 of us won't
amount to a hill of beans to those sentient creatures
known as humans or human-bots who occupy the
globe at that time, assuming that time arrives and
chances are it will. I picked 5,000 off the top of my head
but really, the exact number is not the issue, the fact is
that almost all of us may be meaningless has-been dead
people to those fortunate enough to be around in 2200.
Does that humble you? Does that make you yearn for
some meaning in an immortal payoff ala the myths of
ancient cultures? Shouldn't it, instead, bring you to the
realization that if this is all we're certain exists, we should
do everything humanly possible to make it as pleasant
and lengthy an experience as we can while at the same
time, recognizing the obvious fact that each of us is about
as significant as a grain of sand . . . (humbled but deter-
mined to make a difference no matter the odds) . . . I per-
severe and continue to exist . . . for awhile . . . until . . .
I am . . . less than . . . the sperm . . . the egg . . . from
which . . . I was made . . . that which I am . . . for the
blink of an eye.
- - -
~~~
Pro-Humanist FREELOVER
http://www.ghg.net/phf
(Freethinking Realist Exploring
Expressive Liberty, Openness,
Verity, Enlightenment, & Rationality)
~~~
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