Many organisms can predict the future.
Hence the reason why a horse will stop at the edge of a cliff, because it knows it will fall and die. It may not understand, but it knows.
We humans, are so intelligent, that we can predict far-far into the future.
So far, that we know, we will die.
I can just imagine, the first couple of humans to come across such an existential concept.
To realize that no matter how much you eat, no matter how many predators you escape, no matter how strong you are.
You. Will. Die.
The idea that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try. You and every one you ever loved or ever known, will die.
Must have been psychologically unbearable to these first minds.
Instead of these first humans excepting such a truth.
They instead think, "no..i don't die..no, I just go somewhere else, to some far off place. Where me, and every one I ever loved, will never die. There will be plenty of food, water, no threat of predators, just pure utter comfort. We will be happy...forever."
Thirst, hunger, sexual frustration, poverty, and lack of resources all indicate that their antitheses exist, and that is why we search for those antitheses. We all desire unlimited comfort and that is why we expect it to exist somewhere.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, your last sentence seems to label belief in hereafter as something under-productive ("first stage"), despite the fact that many successful people's motivations were religious-based (Newton, for example).
Its me, faffywaffy. I dont disregard the existence of a higher power in this universe. Sometimes i regard the nature/laws of the universe to be a god in itself. Even without a god I feel like my ability to think, perceive, and feel emotions in the vortex of my own perspective is amazing. My life is devoted to enjoying myself and making life better for the next generation.
DeleteIts me, faffywaffy. I dont disregard the existence of a higher power in this universe. Even without a god, i think the ability to perceive, and feel emotions in the vortex of my own perspective justifies my existence.
DeleteThe existence of some "creator" is definitely a possibility, i doubt it, but its possible.
DeleteThis post was more about the psychological perspective of wishing for the existence of a god and an after life. I think it derives for the most part from a deep seated anxiety about the unknown, and from the pain of death and death of loved ones. Hence the fantasy of another place where you and your loved ones may live happily, forever.
"I feel like my ability to think, perceive, and feel emotions in the vortex of my own perspective is amazing."
I can relate with that feeling. To me it seems almost so amazing that i feels like everything had to have been made purely for me. It makes me feel like success in my goals is inevitable, simply because of the fact that i'm able to perceive the world in the first place. But then i'm reminded if that were the case then everyone around me would have to exist only as pawns, only there to be like npc's along the way. Sort of like philosophical zombies. Though i know that's unlikely, and that its far more likely i'm just one insignificant piece in the grand scheme of things.