Existence and Experience
Published on OctĀ 22, 2023, filed under philosophy (feed). (Share this on Mastodon orĀ Bluesky?)
An attemptĀ *.
Something exists. (If we know anything, then this. There was nothing if there wasnāt something. The fact that this is here, means there is something. And we are here, too, and must be part of something-exists.)
If something exists, it has qualities; whatever something there is, it must be describable (in whatever way).
But: If something-exists is āabsoluteā (i.e., itās one inseparable part), it cannot experience its qualities, and therefore itself. (There is nothing to compare and relate anything to.)
If something-exists is ārelativeā (i.e., it consists of separable parts), it can experience its qualities, and therefore itself. (Each of its parts can be compared and related to the others.)
Now: Our being able to experience must mean something-exists is relative.
And yet: Something-exists may be able to be both absolute and relative; we might not be able to tell.
ā§ What does this mean? It means thereās more to what āexistenceā means. It may not just mean that something āis there.ā Another interesting point is the dichotomy of something-exists being one and several parts; other interesting points arise when we dive into what ācomparingā and ārelatingā means. While this may not answer what it meansāit may answer why it matters.
* I paused (academically) studying philosophy in 2018, pretty much halfway through. It ended a period in my life that I invested in experimenting and researching different non-technical topics. I came out with a greater awareness and humility around how little I know. When it comes to this post, I therefore also submit that this may be nothing new. (Whom does this remind of?) And yet itās fascinating to think of something as fundamental as existence.
About Me
Iām Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and Iām a web developer, manager, and author. Iāve been working as a technical lead and engineering manager for companies youāve never heard of and companies you use every day, Iām an occasional contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and I write and review books for OāReilly and Frontend Dogma.
I love trying things, not only in web development and engineering management, but also in other areas like philosophy. Here on meiert.com I share some of my experiences and views. (I value you being critical, interpreting charitably, and giving feedback.)