There is no "Why?"

[IJesusChrist]

The question of "Why?" often arises in conversation. The answer is usually tied to human actions and reactions, but can range from the fundamental to the complex.

Why is grass green?
Why is he a troll?
Why are we here?

But, I would like to argue that the question of "Why" can only pertain to human action. The reason is because "Why" implies that there is a meaning behind a cause - that there is not only a reason, but an intention. In otherwords, the question of "Why?" can only be answered subjectively - it would be wrong to ask why the grass is green or why we exist. These would imply an intention behind the grass being green, or the existance of man, nature.

Rather than an intention or a reason for the grass being green, we can ask how is the grass green, how did we get here? These questions can (possibly) be answered objectively to the limits of science, but can never be represented with a purpose.

To ask why we are here, or wonder a meaning of existance shows that one does not realize existance of nature itself. To answer "Why we are here" would give a humanistic motivation - purpose does not exist outside of consciousness.

Why should pertain to human action,
How should pertain to nature outside of man and beast.

Anyone disagree?

 

[maxfreakout]

why am i asking this question?

 

[IJesusChrist]

why am i asking this question?

Cause you're a person.

 

[itsscience]

I disagree.

To take your grass is green example:

How is the grass green? It contains chlorophyll which is green in colour.

Why is the grass green? Because it uses chlorophyll, which is green, to convert light energy into starches.

Nature/the universe is subject to natural laws (physics) which are quite capable of being transformed into why questions and the answers are wholly objective. e.g. why is it harder to push this box over carpet instead of tiles? Because friction is greater over the carpet. or Why does this gun force me backwards when I fire it? Because every force has an equal and opposite reaction.

 

[ararat]

why is chlorophyl green? why do plants use chlorophyl? why do we perceive a chemical as green?

why questions seem to bring you to an abyss of infinity. it appears to have no end. I don't want to say there is no end because I don't know

here's a somewhat relevant video of Feynman:

[youtube]wMFPe-DwULM[/youtube]

 

[itsscience]

why is chlorophyl green? why do plants use chlorophyl? why do we perceive a chemical as green?

why questions seem to bring you to an abyss of infinity. it appears to have no end. I don't want to say there is no end because I don't know

here's a somewhat relevant video of Feynman:

Feynman is pointing out the futility of answering a why question posed by a layman to an expert - because there is too much foundation information that needs to be given to the layman for him/her to understand the answer. Feynman also uses the same technique as Descartes in that his theoretical person (the one asking all the "why" questions) is an alien with no understanding whatsoever of the universe (a vacuum mind, if you will) - which IMO is of questionable utility. "Why" questions are the source of all human invention and science, it is the thirst to know why a thing happens or why a thing exists that has driven the human mind since the beginning of man. It is not a bad thing, it's just that why questions need to be asked of individuals with a similar degree of knowledge on the subject matter.

To get back to the original post, "why" applies to the human and non-human equally because a "why" question can be answered in terms of cause and effect as opposed to an intention. Why is clorophyl green? Because the chemical compound that is chlorophyl absorbs all light of the spectrum except green light which it reflects. There is no aspect of "intention" to the answer or question but if you need one then one could refer to Divine purpose/intention or evolutionary powers as being the "intention" behind the answers to the "why" questions.

 

[IJesusChrist]

it is the thirst to know why a thing happens or why a thing exists that has driven the human mind since the beginning of man.

it is the thirst to know HOW a thing happens or HOW a thing exists that has driven the human mind since the beginning of man.

My point being that WHY has a psychological intention. The universe, evolution, a plant, or a planet do not have intentions, reasons, or meanings. HOW they work and WHY they work are not equal.

What I'm really getting at is the fundamental way you learned to pose the question "Why" and "How" as a child. While most people learned to ask "Why" in human concepts- such as why did a fight start, or why does she not like me, or why did I get an F on my test carried over into concepts that do NOT have meaning or intentions - such as the earth, the plant, the universe.

I am in no position to tell you all we have no meaning, but I surely believe that by casting the question of "Why?" on any type concept or idea that is not inherently human, you are assuming, and thus creating a false vision of How reality works - in thaat you assume the universe has an intention.

I suppose this could also go for the arguement of whether the universe DOES have an intention. I personally believe that we have no knowledge or ability to literally interpret reality in such a way, so that giving the universe purpose clouds a fundamental truth of chaos.

 

[Please Stop It Now]

Why are you defining two words that have already been defined?
How are you defining two words that have already been defined?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/why
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/how
I will trust an English teacher's explanation of the words "how" and "why," but not the Theology teacher's explanation.

Also isn't it odd that so many people view human nature as "unnatural"? I guess it comes from religion/spirituality/ego. I mean can you imagine if aliens released 6 billion tigers on Earth? I wouldn't leave my house!








:bear:

 

[IJesusChrist]

Why are you defining two words that have already been defined?
How are you defining two words that have already been defined?
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/why
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/how
I will trust an English teacher's explanation of the words "how" and "why," but not the Theology teacher's explanation.

I basically just reiterated that dictionaries definitions in a psychologically immersed manner. Read them yourself. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WEIGHT OF THE WORD "WHY" IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INTO HOW IT IS USED AND FOR WHAT INTENDED ANSWER. "Why?" is a very weighted word, and needs to be used as such. Even if you are unaware of this you are being affected subconsciously by it's true meaning. By asking "Why are we here" you immidiately presume there is a purpose, consciously or not - this is a linguistical idea, but valid none the less. Asking "How are we here?" is searching and intending for a much different answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pewpew

Also isn't it odd that so many people view human nature as "unnatural"? I guess it comes from religion/spirituality/ego. I mean can you imagine if aliens released 6 billion tigers on Earth? I wouldn't leave my house!

It's because logic isn't seen in nature. Animals have some logic, but it is very near-sighted. Other than that, humans are the only things to carry out logic. I don't understand the tiger reference?

 

[itsscience]

I like tigers.

Why does a tiger hunt? Because it is hungry.

How does a tiger hunt? It creeps slowly ensuring it keeps as low a profile as possible. It ensures it remains down wind of its prey and it pounces on it when close enough.

 

[Please Stop It Now]

It's because logic isn't seen in nature.

Point was just because we're at the top of the food chain doesn't mean we're not a part of nature. Just being anal retentive.

"Why?" is a very weighted word

It's as weighted as you want it to be. If I use it to ask a question with theological overtones then it may seem very weighted and profound to religious people. If I ask "Why did apes evolve into human beings?" instead of asking "Why are we here?" then it likely won't seem as weighted and profound to religious people.

What is our purpose? Why are we here? How do we exist? All of these questions can have deeper meanings because they are so vague and non-specific.

By asking "Why are we here" you immidiately presume there is a purpose

By asking "Why did you eat that?" I presume there is a reason, cause or purpose.

 

[ophiuchus]

why AND how BOTH lead to infinity...

 

[IJesusChrist]

why AND how BOTH lead to infinity...

but two different infinities...

 

[ophiuchus]

well if you wanna cover all the bases, so does 'what' 'where' and 'when' and 'who', in their own respective ways. an infinite number of infinities is still infinity