The Universe, created for me.

[apathy maybe]

Here are a couple of ego-centric views of the universe, which I find quite amusing.

1) The Universe was created for me. Everything from the big-bang onwards led to the inevitable conclusion and perfection, at which point it will be destroyed and rebuilt.
2) The Universe (and all that is in it) is a figment of my imagination. If I can sense it, it doesn't exist. If I die so does the universe.

What are your views on ego-centric views? If in an argument you could use these on some people as well.

[redstar2000]

I always fall back on the "as if" argument.

The universe acts "as if" it objectively exists and is indifferent to human purposes and desires.

It's not really a terribly strong argument, admittedly. The consistent egotist can always reply that "I designed it to look that way".

There is one clear shortcoming in the egotist view. If they created everything in their own heads, why didn't they make themselves immortal in the process? Why do they get sick and die just like all their "creations" do?

Indeed, why do they act in their daily lives "as if" the universe existed objectively and other people were independent agents?

In my opinion, their views are "very watery soup" from a philosophical standpoint and clearly useless in real life activity.

http://anarchist-action.org/forums/images/smiles/redstar.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas

[deathdust]

I'm of the second egocentric view apathy maybe listed.. and I find it very useful in everyday life.. it has so many benefits..
as to being mortal.. I don't know that I'm going to die yet do I? If I do I somehow wanted it..

[Xvall]

I feel egocentric an awful lot. I've been thinking abotu this crap for years. Sometimes I wonder if I'm god, and out of boredom I made up this universe to occupy myself. I also wonder if I'm dead, and was thrown in an infinite dream state, and that my infinite dream state eventually formed into it's own reality; maybe when I die, it will happen alll over again. I also wonder if I am dying and that this whole experience is just that 'Life before your eyes' experience everyone talks about. Then again, sometimes I just don't give a damn.

[Rasta Sapian]

To be in the center of the Universe (or the center) is a selfish and non-logical way of thinking. I wonder how in the hell Bush gets away with it?

[Svartvit]

Personally, I pretty much agree with the great Alan Watts in this issue.
What he sais is basically that borders are shared. Your neighbours fence is also yours. Therefore, you are one with everything. A very simplified explanation, but that's what I feel about the ego-question.

[Guest1]

I sometimes have thoughts of a universe created by god as hell for me (cause I'm agnostic).

or maybe this is just a continuation of my mushroom trip.

but I don't believe it.

[The Feral Underclass]

Seriously dude...WTF?

[The Feral Underclass]

2) The Universe (and all that is in it) is a figment of my imagination. If I can sense it, it doesn't exist. If I die so does the universe.

This kind of attitude is what the left is facing at the moment. I think definatly among young people who have money, playstations, nice shoes, nice houses, they dont have to worry about anything. Therefore when the news comes on about war in iraq, or faiming or HIV, a great deal of them dont sense it, therefore it dosnt exist for them.

[apathy maybe]

Those kids only think that part of the world was created for them. They think that the rest of it doesn't exist. These ideas are more philosophical in that they can't be proven. You can grab a rich kid and drop it in a warzone. Just 'cause their stupid doesn't mean they think the universe was created for them.