The ‘you’ reading this

DISCLAIMER

*This is a bit of a tricky one to understand, so bear with me while I try and explain it.

*I’ve not researched this topic and it’s purely my rambling brain. 

*I use a lot of words broadly as I simply cannot create the meaning for them that I wish they had.

*This post could create some anxiety and discusses potentially anxiety-inducing topics such as the meaning of life and more.

The ‘you’ that is reading this, must have some level of conscience. You are free-thinking and able to create your own ideas and perception of things, making you ‘in control’.

If we assume that the conscience you are living, is the combination of both your parents, then what would happen if your parents never met?

What if your mum and dad never had you, would you still be ‘in control’?

I think it’s interesting when you have older siblings.

I am the youngest sibling, but why wasn’t I the oldest or the oldest the youngest?

It sounds stupid, but we are thinking in terms of self. Really, that’s the only way I can explain it. The free-will, self-thinking, living self.

I am not you and you are not me.

But, why was I this sibling? Why did some come before me, and why did I not gain the consciousness they have.

To explain it in terms of ‘souls’.

Let’s say that every human has a soul. Now, let’s say that each soul contains a human and when a baby is growing in the womb, a soul goes to it, giving it is conscience.

Was I just a slow soul that couldn’t make it to the firstborn child of my parents? Or is there something more?

There are a few more theories we can briefly mention. One is that we are in a simulation, our real bodies are somewhere else and we are living in a fake world created for us.

The next one, caused me some anxiety, as my friend mentioned it when I had a bit too much to drink and it really messed with my brain.

What if none of your surroundings was real, but made purely for you?

What if you are the only ‘real’ person and everything around you was made just for you.

To some extent, it would make sense, as trying to think of another persons ‘thought’ isn’t simple. The thought you have and the thought your parents had are two different things. But could you move your thought into theirs and get some form of understanding about them.

If you could read minds, then sure.

You could also talk about the ship of Theseus experiment but with you being cloned and discuss if that clone is you. In which case, I’d say the clone isn’t you, but if you died and the clone replaced you without no one knowing the original died, then to those that knew you, the clone would be you.

But to go back to the previously stated theory.

There is nothing telling me that, as I wrote this, alone in my room at midnight, that the world outside is moving. Time may be moving, but I know of nothing else that is moving.

The things I interact with, the media, music, friends, and more. What if all those aren’t active when not needed. Things could easily be created on the spot to match my needs and to keep me trapped in this ‘world’, even if I would never interact with them. It’s purely to create realism.

I suppose you could compare it to fiction. Fiction typically follows the main character, but the world outside the main character doesn’t move unless it needs to. If the main character is in the UK, the rest of the world is silent unless needed for the sake of the plot.

This is all super confusing and trying to explain it is even harder. I can’t explain consciousness more than just ‘thought’ or ‘you’ because that’s what it is.

I know this sounds stupid and confusing, and you can ignore it and get on with your day if you wish. But I thought it was interesting, and wanted to briefly touch upon it.

Thanks for reading.

If you like, be sure to follow. I do like these thought-provoking things and will try and come up with more.

Let me know if you want me to speak about anything else or what your thoughts are on these ideas.