Ask HN: What are some absolute truths that exist independently?

Are there some facts, if any, that are true regardless of whether matter, consciousness or living organisms exist?

12 comments

psyc4 yıl önce

To the best of my ability to reason about this, logic does. Whether it's dependent on my ability to reason about it, is beyond my ability to reason about.

acqbu4 yıl önce

Fully agree. Thanks

bell-cot4 yıl önce

What sorts of facts might you mean? "2 + 2 = 4"? "This universe is all that physically exists"? Conservation of energy? Moral or theological assertions?

acqbu4 yıl önce

I guess I am mostly referring to mathematical facts. Not sure about the rest. For example 2 + 2 would always equal 4, regardless of whether the world/all matter ceases to exist.

mshumi4 yıl önce

To encode NOT something takes one more bit than encoding something.

acqbu4 yıl önce

Thanks

dave44204 yıl önce

If no consciousness existed, who or what would judge whether a statement was a fact?

acqbu4 yıl önce

I suppose that doesn't matter. 2 + 2 = 4 whether there are any observers/consciousness or not - right?

thanatos5194 yıl önce

It's impossible for things to exist in the manner in which your question implies that they might.

acqbu4 yıl önce

Why?

Procedural4 yıl önce

Yes.

acqbu4 yıl önce

I think I know what you mean