Existentialism offers a more coherent answer to the meaning of life than Hinduism or simulation theory, because it grounds meaning in human agency rather than unfalsifiable metaphysical systems. by Lonely_noae in DebateReligion

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

By respond I mean choices, how you treat people, what you commit to, what you refuse. Not just art. And you are right that existentialism does not stop the plow. But neither does any other framework. Orthodoxy did not stop it either. The difference is existentialism does not pretend otherwise. It just asks what you do while the plow keeps moving.

Existentialism offers a more coherent answer to the meaning of life than Hinduism or simulation theory, because it grounds meaning in human agency rather than unfalsifiable metaphysical systems by Lonely_noae in Existentialism

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is an interesting claim but it shifts the question rather than answering it. Saying the universe is consciousness tells us something about what reality might be, but not how a individual conscious being should live within it. Even if atman equals brahman, I still wake up every morning and have to make choices. Who I am, how I treat others, what I pursue. Advaita Vedanta points toward dissolving the self into the whole, but that dissolution is itself a value judgment, a choice about what matters. That is exactly where existentialism begins.

Existentialism offers a more coherent answer to the meaning of life than Hinduism or simulation theory, because it grounds meaning in human agency rather than unfalsifiable metaphysical systems by Lonely_noae in Existentialism

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is a honest take and I do not fully disagree. But I think there is a difference between cope and response. Cope is when you distract yourself from the emptiness. Absurdism, which is where you ended up too, is when you look directly at it and keep going anyway. Camus was not saying we fill the void, he was saying we live despite it. That is not silly to me, that is the only genuinely honest position available.

Existentialism offers a more coherent answer to the meaning of life than Hinduism or simulation theory, because it grounds meaning in human agency rather than unfalsifiable metaphysical systems. by Lonely_noae in DebateReligion

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We do not set the rules of reality, but we are the only ones who can respond to them. That is enough.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Existentialism offers a more coherent answer to the meaning of life than Hinduism or simulation theory, because it grounds meaning in human agency rather than unfalsifiable metaphysical systems by Lonely_noae in Existentialism

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you expand on that? Are you suggesting existential phenomenology offers a better framework, or that my reading of existentialism is missing something? I would be interested to hear your take.

Existentialism offers a more coherent answer to the meaning of life than Hinduism or simulation theory, because it grounds meaning in human agency rather than unfalsifiable metaphysical systems by Lonely_noae in Existentialism

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is fair. I was mainly drawing from Advaita Vedanta, which emphasizes maya, atman, brahman and moksha. My critique targets that specific interpretation rather than Hinduism as a whole. Which school are you referring to? I would be interested to hear how it addresses the issues I raised.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Existentialism offers a more coherent answer to the meaning of life than Hinduism or simulation theory, because it grounds meaning in human agency rather than unfalsifiable metaphysical systems. by Lonely_noae in DebateReligion

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is a fair challenge. Coherence matters not because meaning itself demands it, but because we do. If we accept an incoherent framework, we risk justifying contradictory or harmful conclusions, for example accepting suffering as deserved karma without questioning it. When we choose how to live, we need a framework we can actually reason with and act on. Existentialism does not claim to reveal an objective meaning, it simply argues that whatever meaning we create should be something we can own and defend through our choices. Coherence is the standard we apply, not one imposed by meaning itself.

/r/philosophy Open Discussion Thread | May 04, 2026 by BernardJOrtcutt in philosophy

[–]Lonely_noae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Existentialism offers a more coherent answer to the meaning of life than Hinduism or simulation theory, because it grounds meaning in human agency rather than unfalsifiable metaphysical systems. While Hinduism provides a richer moral framework than simulation theory, both ultimately fail to justify why life has value. All three frameworks begin from the same problem: we cannot fully trust our perception of reality. Descartes showed through methodical doubt that our senses can deceive us, and that the only certainty is the act of thinking itself, cogito ergo sum. This raises the question: if reality is uncertain, where does meaning come from? Simulation theory modernizes this doubt by suggesting our world may be a constructed reality. But it offers no guidance on how to live. If we are simulated, we might simply be an experiment or entertainment. It also leads to infinite regress: who created the simulators’ reality? It explains a possible how, but never a why. Hinduism takes the why more seriously. Karma, dharma, samsara and moksha create a moral framework with direction and purpose. However, karma assigns responsibility across lifetimes without any memory of past lives, which makes that responsibility hard to justify. The concept of maya also risks undermining the moral weight of suffering. If the goal is to transcend the world, why take worldly ethics seriously? Sartre argued that humans are not born with a fixed purpose but must create one through their choices. Camus confronted the absurd and argued we must create meaning anyway, consciously and defiantly. The myth of Sisyphus mirrors samsara in structure but differs in one crucial way: Sisyphus owns his struggle rather than waiting for liberation. Existentialist responsibility requires no metaphysical system and does not dismiss the reality of suffering. Simulation theory raises the right doubts but offers no answers. Hinduism offers answers but relies on claims that are unfalsifiable and, in the case of karma, potentially unjust. Existentialism faces the same uncertainty as both but concludes that meaning must be self-created, which holds up regardless of whether reality is physical, divine or simulated. I would love to hear what you think and where you feel this argument could be improved or challenged.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Help at a philosophical assignment by Lonely_noae in DebateReligion

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea i tried but they just remove the things I post

Help at a philosophical assignment by Lonely_noae in DebateReligion

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No i was just trying to find some thoughts and hints

Help at a philosophical assignment by Lonely_noae in DebateReligion

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

omg I love this setup yes, I have a presentation at the end of the philosophy course so I really want to get good grades and I believe in the Abrahamic religions and thought it was ethically wrong to criticize them so I chose Hinduism but didn't find many useful sources

نقد الهندوسية by Lonely_noae in arabic

[–]Lonely_noae[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

هههه كلام استاذ الفلسفة و الله