0
   

Unanswerable Questions

 
 
Reply Mon 13 Feb, 2012 12:31 am
Intrinsically speaking, I cannot get passed the mind numbing question of "Why is there anything at all?" From most threads I've seen on this question there is no real definitive affirmation as to why this question escapes conclusion. Now, I don't want to re-open a can of worms so I'd like to know why certain big questions avoid consensus? What are the underlying factors that make certain questions beyond answerable?
  • Topic Stats
  • Top Replies
  • Link to this Topic
Type: Question • Score: 0 • Views: 901 • Replies: 6
No top replies

 
JLNobody
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Feb, 2012 03:10 pm
@Procrustes,
In addition, I feel there are "unaskable questions", ineffable wonders.

Also, how can we ask the question regarding the existence of anything at all, when our very existence is a prerequiste for the very asking/wondering? I suspect there would have to be a privileged position for the interrogator that is neither one of existence nor of non-existence. Don't ask me why.
0 Replies
 
JLNobody
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Feb, 2012 03:10 pm
@Procrustes,
In addition, I feel there are "unaskable questions", ineffable wonders.

Also, how can we ask the question regarding the existence of anything at all, when our very existence is a prerequiste for the very asking/wondering? I suspect there would have to be a privileged position for the interrogator that is neither one of existence nor of non-existence. Don't ask me why.
djjd62
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Feb, 2012 03:12 pm
@Procrustes,
Procrustes wrote:
Intrinsically speaking, I cannot get passed the mind numbing question of "Why is there anything at all?"


because there isn't nothing at all


really pretty obvious
0 Replies
 
rosborne979
 
  1  
Reply Mon 13 Feb, 2012 04:27 pm
@Procrustes,
Procrustes wrote:
why certain big questions avoid consensus? What are the underlying factors that make certain questions beyond answerable?

Because we have too little information from which to derive either possibility or probability.

A lot of questions that don't have answers at least lend themselves to a high degree of probability (or some degree of probability) within certain philosophical boundaries and a consensus results. But the type of questions you are proposing don't fall into that category.
0 Replies
 
Procrustes
 
  1  
Reply Tue 14 Feb, 2012 07:09 am
@JLNobody,
Quote:
In addition, I feel there are "unaskable questions", ineffable wonders.

I agree, which makes me wonder if there are unfathomable answers?
0 Replies
 
G H
 
  1  
Reply Tue 14 Feb, 2012 10:56 am
@Procrustes,
Quote:
Intrinsically speaking, I cannot get passed the mind numbing question of "Why is there anything at all?" ...What are the underlying factors that make certain questions beyond answerable?

I'm tentatively skeptical that there is a "one size fits all" for those. The un-submitted questions potentially become dysfunctional due to varying circumstances, so that analyzing "Why is there anything at all?" below does not necessary yield factors universal or common to the others' supposed collapse.

"Why" or for what reason is assuming a cause or instigator or necessity for being that itself already or always "is", regardless. Even if such a "reason" exists via only having this effectiveness or importance (intelligible), and not existing as a concrete entity "located somewhere" (spatiotemporal). For example, a rule like "everything requires a reason or cause", would itself be the bottom "reason" if it is so primal and eternally significant. But accordingly, it would already be an instance of being ("to exist is to be potent").

So under inspection the question falls apart as a dog chasing its tail: "What being is responsible for beings being?". Re-phrasing it as "What non-being is responsible for beings being?" introduces the puzzle of how something that doesn't exist can be potent, so as to engender or be responsible for what does/will exist.
0 Replies
 
 

Related Topics

How can we be sure? - Discussion by Raishu-tensho
Proof of nonexistence of free will - Discussion by litewave
Destroy My Belief System, Please! - Discussion by Thomas
Star Wars in Philosophy. - Discussion by Logicus
Existence of Everything. - Discussion by Logicus
Is it better to be feared or loved? - Discussion by Black King
Paradigm shifts - Question by Cyracuz
 
  1. Forums
  2. » Unanswerable Questions
Copyright © 2024 MadLab, LLC :: Terms of Service :: Privacy Policy :: Page generated in 0.03 seconds on 05/05/2024 at 09:51:45