Existence and Experience

Published on Oct 22, 2023, filed under philosophy. (Share this post, e.g., on Mastodon.)

An attempt ^*.

Something exists. (If we know anything, then this. There was nothing if there wasn’t 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 “absolute” (i.e., it’s one inseparable part), it cannot experience its qualities, and therefore itself. (There is nothing to compare and relate anything to.)

If something-exists is “relative” (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.

_ What does this mean? It means there’s more to what “existence” means. It may not just mean that something “is there.” Another interesting point is the dichotomy of something-exists being one and several parts; other interesting points arise when we dive into what “comparing” and “relating” means. While this may not answer what it means—it 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 it’s fascinating to think of something as fundamental as existence.

About Me

I’m Jens (long: Jens Oliver Meiert), and I’m an engineering lead, guerrilla philosopher, and indie publisher. I’ve worked as a technical lead and engineering manager at various companies (e.g., Google); I’m an active web and tool developer (code optimization, digital defense), a contributor to web standards (like HTML, CSS, WCAG), and a book author (O’Reilly, Frontend Dogma).

I love trying things—in web development and engineering management, but also in politics and philosophy, where I hold to one idea in particular: that we can only be well if we take good care of everyone. Here on meiert.com I talk about some of my perspectives and experiences. (Interpret charitably but be critical—and please share feedback and advice that makes my work better.)