Considering geological time Does it really matter what humans do

[pam699]

Considering geological time Does it really matter what humans do
does it matter if human f..k the enviroment since in a billion year time the contients and world climate will be different any way
does it matter if human cause the extinction of animal since in a billion years time they would not be here any way

does it really mater what humans dio when in a billion years time humanity will just be a smug in the geological strata above which wil be new life forms urinating and excreating above us
does it really mater what humans do when sometime in the future the sun will incinerate every planet in the solar system

so what does it matter what we do when in geological time it will all be eradicated anyway and hve no grerat effect upon anything in a billion years time
so why not just get on with getin on and f..k up things all we can

[pahl]

Does anything matter at all, other than in the subjective views of people?

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: pam699 Considering geological time Does it really matter what humans do does it matter if human f..k the enviroment since in a billion year time the contients and world climate will be different any way does it matter if human cause the extinction of animal since in a billion years time they would not be here any way does it really mater what humans dio when in a billion years time humanity will just be a smug in the geological strata above which wil be new life forms urinating and excreating above us does it really mater what humans do when sometime in the future the sun will incinerate every planet in the solar system so what does it matter what we do when in geological time it will all be eradicated anyway and hve no grerat effect upon anything in a billion years time so why not just get on with getin on and f..k up things all we can

I usually find your threads pointless, but I actually think about this topic quite a lot.

In some movie.. a murderer was trying to justify his killing with the fact that we are just a blink of an eye to the universe.

The thing is, many of us care about securing the future for our children and their children. Some, like me, dream of mankind transcending into the stars and facing even more challenges for as long as mankind can. It's within most of us, the desire to survive.

But, logically, there is no reason. There is no other purpose to this than that we are helplessly bound to our survival urges. It wouldn't matter to the universe in any significant way whether we screwed up the earth or if we all died out. The thing is, the universe isn't making that decision; we are. And we are programmed to think otherwise.. because not only do we not want to die ourselves, many of us do not want mankind to die either.

[pam699]

but geologically it does not matter wat we do we will just end up a smug in the geological strata extinct and completly forgotten by the urinating excreating life forms above

[Matt W]

And? What's the point of considering things from a geological point of view when you can make a genuine difference to your life in a human timescale?

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: pam699 but geologically it does not matter wat we do we will just end up a smug in the geological strata extinct and completly forgotten by the urinating excreating life forms above

Does not matter? It doesn't matter to you?

I think you aren't being honest. Matter is something that people feel is important. It ISN'T a purely logical concept.

To me, it matters that I help secure this world for my kids and their kids. At the moment, it DOES matter because I am human and I have emotions. When I die, I know it won't matter to ME because I'll be dead. But it will still matter to THEM, and I want what's best for them.. and while I'm alive, I will do so and I will continuing caring for mankind until I'm dead and incapable of caring.

To think that.. because you won't live forever, what's the point? Is just weak and overly pessimistic for no real reason other than to be depressing. To think that.. because I won't be around, who cares about my kid's kid's kids? Is just selfish and lacking of the "caring gene?".

[pam699]

but nevertheless no matter wat u do or dont do geologically we all you your kids their kids wil just be a fotgotten smug some new life form urinates on
the universe does not care one i ota about humanity it sees as as no diferent to the worms in a carcass all completly irrelevent to the universe do you agree

[Matt W]

And? The point is irrelevent as these new 'smug life forms' have no impact on my life. What I do does. The universe may not care about me, so be it. Do I care about its' opinion?

[pam699]

so does it matter what humans do then
why not just f..k up evrything because in the long run everything will be a smuj in the geological strata anyway WHAT DO YOU THINK

[Gods_Mercenary]

Quote by: Matt W And? What's the point of considering things from a geological point of view when you can make a genuine difference to your life in a human timescale?

Why? The difference doesn't matter, even considering a human timescale, unless you're a great conqueror or something.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: pam699 so does it matter what humans do then why not just f..k up evrything because in the long run everything will be a smuj in the geological strata anyway WHAT DO YOU THINK

That's the problem. It's what we think. We think we want to secure a lovely place for our children and their children's children's children to live. It makes us feel good and important. We will keep this feeling of importance, pride, and goodness until the day we die. Once that happens, it's too late to change our minds. So what's the dealio here? Seriously.

Like I said..

To think that.. because you won't live forever, what's the point? Is just weak and overly pessimistic for no real reason other than to be depressing. To think that.. because I won't be around, who cares about my kid's kid's kids? Is just selfish and lacking of the "caring gene?".

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Why? The difference doesn't matter, even considering a human timescale, unless you're a great conqueror or something.

It matters to us.

Firstly, I don't neccesarily think about people thousands of years in the future. I think about caring for my kids. I KNOW you would also care for your kids (or you do so, if you already have kids of your own) and by caring for your kids.. (and I really hope you aren't going to argue why we'd care for our kids) you are playing a role. You're securing the survival and happiness of the next generation which will let their offspring do the same and the same onward and so fourth. That's how it happens. All you have to do is care about your offspring and the rest of mankind should be taken care of. You DO care about your offspring, right? That's just basic human emotion (for most of us).

[Gods_Mercenary]

Bearing offspring to further the survival of a species to what end? So that we delay its imminent demise? It's an innavoidable (almost) instinct to care for your young, just as it is to want to make them in the first place. that doesn't imply meaning, just instinct.

[Lullaby Chainer]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Bearing offspring to further the survival of a species to what end? So that we delay its imminent demise? It's an innavoidable (almost) instinct to care for your young, just as it is to want to make them in the first place. that doesn't imply meaning, just instinct.

Meaning? Meaning exists for every individual you give a life to. My meaning in life is to be happy and make others happy. Other's might be different. You're asking for logical meaning and that's just stupid as logic hasn't any meaning. Logic is useless without emotion to guide it.

That's like saying, what meaning is there in taking out the trash?
-Because it's smelly!
No.. logical meaning. REAL meaning.

What the hell? That makes no sense. It's not logical to do anything. We do things based on emotion and we USE logic to make sure our expectations meet reality.

[pam699]

but emotionally then how do you feel thast we all will end up as a smuj in the geological strata abs it might not matter what humans do or not do

[pam699]

hey as a side issue to this
if it does not matter what humans do becuase we will ixstinct and a smuj in the stara
and the universe dont care about us then all we have in the universe is our self alone and not loved
thus humanty could pull together rathar than f..king things destroying everything killing everything
if nothing loves us in the universe and we will one day just vaniosh from it forgotten and not missed we could well say love our own species
but in another post it is cliamed we cant do this anyway because we are a dumb ass species

[Jack]

No, Pam, it doesn't. As far as we can support with scientific evidence, there's no reason for anything. Life is a fluke, the odds against it are high. Our awareness of any other type of life nonexistent. Our lifetimes, on a geologic scale, are but a second. On a universal scale, we just barely exist. Nothing we do will ever matter to anything beyond our planet. Earth is the only stage any of us alive today will ever act out our lives on. Earth, on the outer edge of a backwater galaxy. Humans are totally unimportant to the galaxies.

Now, if you enjoy bathing in the awareness that nothing ever truly matters at all, you are most likely depressed, manic, mystical or nihilistic. In my case, I balance that awareness with the knowledge that on my time scale, there are plenty of reasons to laugh, have fun, make friends and make love. I don't care that none of it matters to the universe. It matters to me.

[pam699]

yes i see your point but
quote

hey as a side issue to this
if it does not matter what humans do becuase we will ixstinct and a smuj in the starta
and the universe dont care about us then all we have in the universe is our self alone and not loved
thus humanty could pull together rathar than f..king things destroying everything killing everything
if nothing loves us in the universe and we will one day just vaniosh from it forgotten and not missed we could well say love our own species
but in another post it is cliamed we cant do this anyway because we are a dumb ass species

but one thing no one of all the philosphers have a meantioned
could a god loves us and care about us and thus it might matter what we do in the long run

[pam699]

now follow me closley
this is where deans ideas come in
as a philosopher you are all useing logic to arrive at this view characterised by isherwood
but as dean has argued all this logic does is make all your logical views end in meaninglessness
so if everything is meaninglessness then no view is episytemologicaly more valiid that anyt other so the beiffe in god is just as valid as the belief that we ar unloved and unimportant
so why not just belive in god- HEY CAN YOU SEE WE END UP WITH S[PINOZAS WAGER - as a betting man you have nothing to losse in beliveing in god but a hell of of alot if it exists

[Jack]

but one thing no one of all the philosphers have a meantioned could a god loves us and care about us and thus it might matter what we do in the long run

You've never read a philosopher writing about gods? Ever checked out David Hume? Take a break from Dean for a while.
To answer your question, a large bunny living on Mars could love me and my life still wouldn't matter to the universe. Think of reality as a really large pond. Our lives are snowflakes landing on the water. Hardly a ripple. If thinking gods care about you and therefore your life has meaning makes you able to get through the day, then that's what you have to do. I don't.