A Debate [text | un: orator]

[chiefkeyward]

[ Lahabrea hasn't made his presence known much since his arrival here. Nevertheless, he has a question he wishes to ask that may spark a lively debate. He has no need for anonymity on his part, so this mysterious "orator" can be addressed accordingly. After much thought, he decides to type the following: ]

What makes you worthy of existence?

[That's just one of many questions to come.]

Comments

text: un: matriarch

[menphina]

Is this how I was supposed to find out you've returned!!!

[chiefkeyward]

[Uh oh. Now he's suffering from existential dread. He didn't expect to run into Megumi so soon.]

News of my departure was greatly exaggerated. While my consciousness did fade for a moment, I doubt I was truly gone. Nonetheless, I consider the Lifestream to be a mediocre paradise.

text; un: didnot

[bratherine]

what

( Why is the network suddenly a philosophy class. )

[chiefkeyward]

[He knows illiteracy is a problem on this Star, but this is ridiculous.]

The question is relatively simple: What makes you deserving of existence? Have you made any contributions to the Star from which you come?

Or do you exist solely because of your own will? If so, explain why.

text; un: steak

[battlebound]

Because I exist. What kind of question is that?

( He really doesn't think it's over-complicated. )

[chiefkeyward]

[He can't help but scoff a little at this reply. Thankfully, this isn't a video chat.]

Existence raises fundamental issues in metaphysics, language philosophy, and philosophical logic. Many of the issues can be grouped around the following two questions: Is existence a property of individuals? Assuming that existence is a property of individuals, are there any who lack it?

This is the subject I wish to investigate.

un: abnormalitylover, text

[abnormalizes]

Nothing makes anyone worthy of existence. They just exist anyway.

[chiefkeyward]

According to your belief, everyone has the right to live regardless of their deeds and contributions to society. If so, does this generosity also extend to those who may have committed egregious crimes in the past?

text, un: necromancer

[necromants]

What a fascinating question! Though I don't particularly believe that anything makes one's existence worthy; rather that existence is a consequence of happenstance. Several factors led to one's existence and as such, it's up to them to make the most of their time.

Though I imagine you must have some truly interesting thoughts on the subject to propose such a question!

[chiefkeyward]

[Necromancer? Lahabrea can't help but raise an eyebrow at that moniker.]

I come from a star where all life has a purpose, a task, and a role to play. To exist simply because of happenstance is mere folly in the eyes of the Ancients. We strived to achieve perfection by wielding our magicks to create magnificent beasts in hopes of prolonging our star's longevity.

As a result, I'm perplexed why many here argue the opposite.

text; un: architect

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Ah, so you have returned.

[chiefkeyward]

You've noticed and yet failed to tell Megumi?

[He's blaming you for this, Hades. Megumi is still texting him!]

text | un: shinkirou

[kingside]

[Are they really getting into this right now.]

Are you speaking in general or specific terms?

[Because he has different answers for each even if he's also preemptively exhausted by the subject.]

[chiefkeyward]

[Indeed, they are. However, everyone's mileage will vary.]

In general terms, for now.

text; un:jaeger

[dreamsofwings]

I was born into the world, same as everyone else. That's enough. Everyone has the right to exist.

[chiefkeyward]

Is that all to determine one's worth? If so, what makes your life more important than others?

Text | UN: frieda

[urtitan]

[While Frieda is glad to see Lahabrea mingling on the network rather than isolating himself among his books - and, going by some of the other threads, he has housemates who've been missing him! -, his question is enough to immediately cast her into doubt about her own right to exist again, all the more when she reads more deeply into his debates with others. "Does this generosity also extend to those who may have committed egregious crimes in the past?" Well. She knows the answer to that.]

In worlds where beings are not created with a purpose, their worth is surely determined by whether they make their world better or worse. Those who make it worse should perish.

[He knows her stance already, of course, but she wants to let him know that she's reading his post!]

[chiefkeyward]

[Yes, this old man has housemates who have truly missed him over the last few weeks. It appears that Lahabrea was so depressed that he overlooked their reactions to his disappearance. A sad truth, but one he intends to correct. In regards to the current topic at hand, Lahabrea's simple yet not-so-simple question is a trick question. ]

Interesting theory, but who's perspective are we seeing through? The world at large, or your own? Not everyone would agree with those terms, especially if the rest of the world considers them the enemy.

There can be more than one truth.

user: wolf

[badsunrising]

This question seems to come up on a concerningly regular basis here.

[chiefkeyward]

Is this so? I was blissfully unaware of how frequently this topic arises.

Perhaps we are among scholars.

UN: MonkieMan

[noodleboi]

...Is this a trick question?

[chiefkeyward]

Why do you ask?

UN: UltimateLifeform | Text

[shatteredprison]

I am worthy of existence because I am the Ultimate Lifeform. I was created to be the Ultimate Lifeform. I was the success after the failures before me.

[chiefkeyward]

So you claim but do you possess any substantial proof of this? If so, why were you deemed the "Ultimate Lifeform" and by what standards? Do these standards matter "here" in a world that is not yours?

text; un: shigeru

[mysophobic]

Well, I'm not really sure what makes me worthy? What makes anyone worthy is a better question. Is there criteria for that?? [ He hopes not?! ]

But back home I now have a duty to the entire planet so I guess that's what keeps me going?

But do people need a reason to be allowed to exist? [ HELLO? That is wild to even type out but here he is. ]

[chiefkeyward]

There is no criteria for one's worth.[Or so he believes.] We've all been blessed with the gift of life for one reason or another.

I merely seek conversation.

[That is not entirely the truth, but Lahabrea refuses to bare his soul to an audience.]

In my opinion, having a duty to fulfill is sufficient reason to exist. However, I truly believe that a person's existence is not solely defined by their duties.

text | un: ugh

[nyxedmessages]

I'm kind of an important cog in the machine of existence and it would be a little hard to replace me.

That being said, 'worth' is kind of like. A useless metric by which to measure existences, since it is completely a subjective measurement to make. Consider the mosquito- for most it is a pest, spreading disease and contributing only annoyance while being a less popular pollinator than insects like bees, but if one were to erase them from existence, it would cause great upset in the entirety of their ecosystem and possibly beyond.

A single individual may be less impactful to the larger picture to remove, but even if many find no worth in that individual, it is likely that they are worth something to something, even if that something is simply parasites or single-celled organisms that rely on their host for survival.

Or something like that, I guess.

[He loves talking philosophy but he isn't going to ACT like he does. Ignore how much he said upfront. He did that for laughs.]

[chiefkeyward]

Important, you claim? Color me intrigued.

[Lahabrea isn't certain what to think about this response. This was a longer read than some of the other commenters, but he's still curious.]

While one's worth is entirely subjective, I believe that many of us would not prioritize the life of a mosquito over that of a household pet. I argue that our value is not intrinsic but rather changes depending on the context.

un: chef

[discrown]

you a few glasses in or you askin cuz this is normally how you break the ice

( Hard to say if the missing punctuation (namely, the missing question mark at the end) is because he doesn't "get" tech just yet or because he's a lazy typist. (It's both.) )

[chiefkeyward]

[The way he rolled his eyes after reading this message. It appears that the people here are quite dull in both speech and mindset. He expected to have an intellectual conversation with the masses, but instead he gets "this".

Humanity is truly lost.]

I do not consume alcohol. This was, at best, a rhetorical question intended to spark conversation rather than the nonsense you've come to spew.

Text; un: caster

[colchismagecraft]

why do you ask
if you plan to say i do not deserve to exist then i frankly do not care what you or anyone else in this place thinks i deserve

i will take my life and existence and do with it exactly as i please

[Caster? Selfishly pursuing her own goals and happiness? Say it isn't so.]

[chiefkeyward]

It is not for me to judge the worth of your existence. I merely want to know what makes others want to exist.

Text; un: fenrirfang

[corpsewarblade]

In this world or back home? The short answer is I don't but I don't think we really get a say in it either way.

[She's still not sure why her of all people got summoned to help save the worlds to begin with.]

[chiefkeyward]

Of course not. I am from a distant star called Etheirys, a bountiful world known for its abundance in aether, from which magick draws.

I am fully aware of our current plight, but I can't help but wonder what our true purpose is here.