Mathemathical break-down of exsistensial crisis

[Comfopleb]

As the title suggest, I tried to break down what I think is a fairly common ex. crisis

Spoiler

Oh god holy shit I'm an infinitely small insignificant piece of meat, constructed by chemicals, in a possibly infinite amount of universes! What does it matter what I do? Do I matter? Does anything?

mathematically. This lead me to the conclusion that events in a smaller system (you) matters to the larger system (earth) because events occurring in the smaller system necessarily also occurs in the larger system. Likewise, the smaller system (milky way) matters to the larger system (our universe). However, an occurrence in the larger system does not necessarily affect the smaller system: a goat may eat some grass on Iceland and it likely won't affect you in this moment. However, I am unable to ease your existential angst for lack of objective value (not the same as value to our universe) - because objectivity is not an observer or experiencer of value. Objectivity is not in any sense a subject, it can't be placed in the venn diagrams. It makes just as much sense to search objective meaning as trying to divide by zero. You'll just have to deal with it, as far as I can see. Here's a more systematic presentation of my thoughts. Sorry about the lack of horizontality.

Also, why haven't you got a personal whiteboard yet?

 

[Cognisant]

The image rez is too small, still it'll be interesting to see what you've come up with, I can't even begin to imagine how someone would model something as abstract as an existential crisis in mathmatics.

 

[Nick]

Here ya go Cog:
http://postimage.org/image/oh3cfirzp/full/
-or- normal size: http://postimage.org/image/oh3cfirzp/

Also, @Comfopleb was there supposed to be 2 images?

I like how you used the goat in Iceland in your diagram.

 

[Architect]

I have a personal white board. Big one, with lots of pens. Great for helping my kid with his homework too btw.

Any chemicals involved in this post?

 

[Comfopleb]

@Cognisant
It's not really the existential crisis itself that is modeled mathematically, but rather the cause of the ex. crisis. I suppose the thread title is somewhat misleading.

@Nick
No, I did not intend to upload more than one image. Why, is there anything you miss?

@Architect
I'm sure it's great help for helping with homework. I find that it is a great aid when communicating in physics and mathematics. I am only in an early stage in these fields, but I presume that it is a more and more helpful tool as the calculations and theories get more complex. Thoughts on this? No substances were abused in the conception of this thread, no.

To anyone who is confused with the notation used on the whiteboard, here is a link to logic symbols. Basically symbols are replacements for words. It's not as complicated as it first looks. It's only high school mathematics, which - on a side note - is my current level in maths.

 

[Agent Intellect]

At every moment of our lives, we have all had the option of killing ourselves. Why hasn't anyone reading this done it yet?

 

[Comfopleb]

@Agent Intellect
I had a cup of coffee earlier in the morning actually. I had a cup because I wanted to. I figured it would probably make me feel good, and I was right; it was a good cup of coffee. I hadn't even considered killing myself so far this morning though, until I saw your post. I can't really see how it would make me feel good, and in the the end that's all I really want. To feel good.

Feeling good has very little to do with the relationship between objectivity and scale of systems in our universe. I think some people have a problem with that, but there's really no reason to despair over it as far as I can see.

 

[Jennywocky]

I just feel bad for the goat in Iceland.

What if he doesn't like salad?

 

[BigApplePi]

I had a crisis and was going to do away with myself. But I realized I had an appointment the next day I couldn't break. So I cancelled it.*
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*The doing away that is. I kept the appointment.
Realizing I was so tiny, I had to do something to keep anything so small from getting lost. So I let my mind expand into the far reaches of the universe and used the radiant to swing all the way around while gathering up various encounterances along the way. I used those to establish a new self which recognizes you are there making my universe much larger**.
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**Should you not believe me, you may express your doubts to this thread making my universe even larger.

 

[Vrecknidj]

To anyone who is confused with the notation used on the whiteboard, here is a link to logic symbols. Basically symbols are replacements for words. It's not as complicated as it first looks. It's only high school mathematics, which - on a side note - is my current level in maths.

I can make stuff up too. Just because I create a key and then use a formal system to express myself doesn't make any of it meaningful.

 

[Hadoblado]

I think these crises of existence would be far less common if people would stop indoctrinating their children into belief systems that make them feel more important than they are. Once you accept the scale of the universe and your place in it, there really isn't a problem.

We should stop lying to children.

 

[joal0503]

I think these crises of existence would be far less common if people would stop indoctrinating their children into belief systems that make them feel more important than they are. Once you accept the scale of the universe and your place in it, there really isn't a problem.

We should stop lying to children.

Hells yes. Ive thought about this before...how children (lets go with ages 6-12), when treated like adults would actually perform and think like one. Go back to when life expectancy was much shorter, and children were a source of labor.Im not gonna sit here and try to claim that children were universally angels, but children had responsibility. children were expected to learn or find out how to do things on their own.

now today, its rare to find children like this. who seem to be able to grasp the bigger pictures, as well as perform tasks that dont involve crayons. but it shouldnt be a surprise, when you just look at whats being filled into their heads from day 1. Fantasy, bullshit, lies. Which I suppose fosters the imagination and creativity, but thats later stripped when they go through whats typical for a teenager in this country.ultimately, the foundation of their existence is not based in reality. I have no idea why there is a need to 'protect' children from reality. To help them? So that they can have their worlds crash down on them at a later point in life? So that they can grow up to become adults with shit for brains? Oh wait...! I do understand, its just easier for an adult to say, "it was magic" rather than actually having to think for themselves and give their child a rational answer they can comprehend. Parents lie to their children all the time, but its justified because they "wont understand it" bleh. No, you just dont understand it, and are too occupied with 'adult matters' to try to educate your own child.

god i realize how full of generalizations this is. forgive me. i need a cigarette.

 

[The Introvert]

I can make stuff up too. Just because I create a key and then use a formal system to express myself doesn't make any of it meaningful.

This has no need here.

If you are to actually look at the image and the post, nothing was made up. By definition, actions within a system affect the system; no need to be an ass.

Personally, I found the OP both creative and thoughtful.

 

[Comfopleb]

"You create a universe by perceiving it" <- from the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Universe, I can't remember which book. It makes sense, in a way. Of course, everything makes sense if you are free to define the terms yourself.

I noticed I made a mistake in the Venn diagram for Y. Here is a more correct version. And to ease your big heart, Jennywocky, I gave the goat some chocolate in stead. Picture is clickable.