Missing Pieces

We humans are a strange breed. We’re strange because we have the presence of mind to question with the intent of comprehension. We expanded the scale on which this function operated from simpler concepts that affect daily life to existential proportions that incorporate the ‘all’. In doing so we discovered ‘missing pieces’ that became barriers to any solid conclusions, hence man’s oldest questions (What’s the meaning of life? Why are we here?) still remain unanswered, though they are often supplemented with faith which is an inane product of fear and weakness. A dog doesn’t question why it’s a dog, what it means to be a dog, where dogs came from or where they’re going (in the conceptual sense, not the literal), and if it wouldn’t be better off dead than alive. We humans are weak and stupid in that sense, yet at the same time strong and infinitely wise to question. It’s as if we’re collectively putting a puzzle together and several pieces fell of the table. Some try to supplement their own pieces, but most can tell they don’t quite fit. Others give up or choose to ignore it, and are content to stare at an unfinished puzzle. But I think the majority of people are afraid of what we might discover by completing the puzzle: that we are infinitely insignificant, or scrupulously significant are both frightening thoughts.

So what are the missing pieces and how do we find them? We must use the two tools we humans have at our disposal: observation and logic. Once we assume they exist beyond comprehension, we then inadvertently and formlessly comprehend the incomprehensible. This parallels the idea that in learning about yourself you change yourself, then you must learn about yourself again – it’s a perpetual function, and life is dynamic. But of what use is a formless comprehension if what we desire is a complete understanding? Not much, but it’s a start. A uniquely human quality is to question not just the existence of mankind on Earth but of matter itself. Why does matter exist? Because it’s impossible for nothing to exist when even nothing is something. Empty space is in fact something: a multi-dimensional platform. Is it then possible to leave this universe or step outside it? By definition, universe implies the totality of existence, so it would be impossible to step outside it or view it with pure objectivity since we originated from it. ‘Multiverses’ would still exist under the qualifying ‘universe’. So where did it all come from? Was the big bang just a coincidence, or the product of an externality that exists outside our universe? If it exists at all then it must be part of the universe because the term is all-encompassing. If there was this external creator I have described it would be considered by most to be God. So either existence is the product of coincidence which led to the random sequence of events that made us arrive where we are now, or it was deliberate and each action has significance to reality. Hmm that’s a melon-scratcher. Actually it’s a paradox – because they are both true yet they contradict each other. What it does though is it negates any notion of moderate significance in either direction. When distilled to the original process that created the universe it was either deliberate or accidental.

Paradoxes are flaws in reality, or perhaps just flaws in human interpretation and barriers to understanding. Humans use logic and analytical reasoning to understand everything yet logic requires sufficient-necessary conditions and contra-positives. The logical flaw with sufficient-necessary conditions is that they require an original assumption. The ultimate irony of the paradox is that even logic is logically flawed. ‘We shouldn’t kill each other’ is just such an assumption which then drives ensuing logical conclusions. Some would argue that these ‘original assumptions’ derive from innate characteristics of humanity that evolved out of convenience or necessity. So if the light of logic is our one beacon to comprehension that is fundamentally flawed then we are indeed cast into darkness: we have no clue where we are or where we’re headed, mankind loses his sense of touch and can’t even feel around in the dark anymore for guidance. Yet the light of human understanding still exists all around us which just casts us from darkness to paradox again. Well if our two tools – logic and observation – are flawed and redundant then we are all fucked: for lack of a better world.