NationStates Jolt Archive

Is ideal existence representitive of a metaphysical truth or an empistemological truth? In simpler terms, is the concept of ideal existence refering to the nature of the object, or the nature of our perception of the object?

depends on whos using the term probably.

for me I would say that it can only exist in our minds eye, at least on the physical plane as I dont have any point of vieew beyond that at the moment.

To see a better world we must change our perception.

For me the ideal existence is that of absolute joy 100% of the time but not deviod of obstacles to overcome.

When I say "ideal existence" I don't mean personal ideals, I mean essential being as described by the Greek philosophers and accepted as an accurate representation of the universe for literally thousands of yesars.

huh?

so is this like one of those what is the meaning of life questions?

Is ideal existence representitive of a metaphysical truth or an empistemological truth? In simpler terms, is the concept of ideal existence refering to the nature of the object, or the nature of our perception of the object?
Both. Both are necessary for a complete picture of existence (complete being the ideal). A thing is, and it is perceived by humans. If it is not perceived by any humans, it may be there but it is nothing, because there is no knowledge of it, or it is hypothetical (for instance, the existence of planets around other stars up until the point when they were observed).

This may sound like human-bias, and I assure you it is ;), but you have to consider that we cannot at the moment communicate at our level with any other species not-us, so their perception of things is not useful. Pity.

One: You're getting too existential for this species. And two: I believe that the only ideal existence for humans is epistemological, but that the ideal existence period is metaphysical. I don't think the latter is possible, however, as ideal existence can only be viewed from a being, which currently, from human knowledge, includes only life, viruses, and prions. You could go farther and only include conscious or sentient life, but it is true that everything that is capable of reproduction has an ideal existence with which to accomplish this. Which would then mean that the ideal existence is metaphysical, not epistemological. So it really boils down to your definition of ideal existence (is thinking that one is in an ideal existence fit under this?), and what is included in this ideal existence.

Is ideal existence representitive of a metaphysical truth or an empistemological truth? In simpler terms, is the concept of ideal existence refering to the nature of the object, or the nature of our perception of the object?

My suspicion is that there is an ideal existence that is representative of a metaphysical truth, in addition to (and not necessarily different from all of) the many concepts of an ideal existence that we as individuals and groups adhere to.

Edit: I am amazed at how many responses this has gotten in the ten minutes while I was posting and helping people at the same time.