Classical Theism, Philosophy, and Religion Forum / Self

**Posted by Futhark** 8/29/2016 9:19 am

Since it seems that everything has a self or an identity, is it possible that the Universe has its own mind and just lets us discover what should be discover?

**Posted by iwpoe** 8/29/2016 11:51 am

Well, in a sense. The universe has intelligibility as a characteristic.

Though I'm not sure that's precisely what you mean.

**Posted by John West** 8/29/2016 12:03 pm

Futhark wrote:
Since it seems that everything has a self or an identity

Well, there is a distinction between “a self”, in the sense of a mind, and identity. A rock is identical with itself, but it probably doesn't have a mind*. (Not even in a reductionist kind of way.) So, it's probably not the case that everything has a mind.

is it possible that the Universe has its own mind and just lets us discover what should be discover?

I'll define “the Universe” as the entire spacetime system. (If that's not what you mean, let me know.) Are you asking if the universe—the mereological sum or whole of everything that is in or constitutes spacetime—itself has a mind?

*T. L. S. Sprigge and panpsychists would disagree, but they're very much a minority.

**Posted by Futhark** 8/30/2016 4:42 am

I'm asking about the mereological sum with the thought that spacetime is included in the mereological sum.
*Intense*

**Posted by Futhark** 8/30/2016 4:47 am

And yes, I'm not talking about the mind but just the identity of the thing itself physically- its individualism as an object (given that everything is different from each other due to time.

**Posted by John West** 8/30/2016 7:26 am

Futhark wrote:
I'm asking about the mereological sum with the thought that spacetime is included in the mereological sum. *Intense*

Right. That's accounted for by the “or constitutes spacetime” part of “the mereological sum [. . .] of everything that is in or constitutes spacetime”.

And yes, I'm not talking about the mind but just the identity of the thing itself physically- its individualism as an object (given that everything is different from each other due to time.

I'm not sure how to fit this in with your previous question.

**Posted by Futhark** 8/30/2016 8:48 am

The universe here is describe as an 'individual' that is different to others due physically due to time(this is just another trait, I just elaborated how it is not focus on the mind but as a whole with the use of time)
If its so messy lol, just tell me about your thoughts on this. ☺