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Understanding the Conscious Life

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Accepting the assumption that something is there rather than that nothing is there is said to be the beginning of conscious life. What is meant by this statement and why is it important to the meaning of life?

See p. 19
http://www.amazon.ca/Naming-Elephant-Worldview-as-Concept/dp/083082779X.

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Solution Summary

This solution will assist the student to discuss the meaning of life by analyzing the assumption that the beginning of conscious life is based on believing that something is there rather than that nothing is there.

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Accepting the assumption that something is there rather than that nothing is there is said to be the beginning of conscious life.

What is meant by this statement and why is it important to the meaning of life?

I will provide you with different ways of understanding the above. By the end, you should be able to identify a reasonable opinion of the above statement and state your answers appropriately.

ACCEPTING THE ASSUMPTION: Something is there rather than nothing is there

Sire is stating that all worldviews assume that something is there rather than that nothing is there. In other words, in this way, worldviews believe that "some things" exist rather than do not exist.

I will pose the question: Can a person hold a worldview in which he/she believes that something does NOT exist?
If a person chooses to believe that something that is not "fact" simply does not exist, does this mean that this person will not live a "conscious life"?

At this point, it would be beneficial to examine what Sire means by a "conscious life." Sire also states that the apprehension that something is there is also the beginning of two branches of philosophy: metaphysics (the study of being) and epistemology (the study of knowing).

I probe this external thinking because Sire is a Christian and writes from a Christian perspective. He has taught in three of the five continents thus he would have an understanding of worldviews from different contexts.

WHAT IS MEANT BY THIS STATEMENT?
In my opinion, a "conscious life" would be a life in which a person has a healthy understanding of their reality as a human being. This would result in the person making choices for the benefit of his/her physical well-being, spiritual well-being, and psychological well-being.

A "conscious life" for Sire could mean a life in which an individual recognizes the ...

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