Nov 18, 2017
07:42
Dan B. : I have a question of a philosophical nature. What is the basis for suggesting that the question “why?” cannot be answered?
Me: Yah, it’s a tough one. I have always asked my colleagues and students at school to answer why to their thoughts and ideas. Most often I got an answer that addressed how, but rarely why. Some years ago I had a long argument, it went on for days, with members of the math and science departments that they essentially answered all their questions in their classes with how answers, never why. It was ferocious at times. It came to an end when I suggested that these two departments were no different than any religion. That they had a dogma, they taught it as inviolable that no other alternatives to their dogma was acceptable. To the science guys I said all Newton and Einstein did was explain how gravity and relativity works, not why it’s there in the first place. Okay, there was a Big Bang and ‘our’ universe came into being – that’s how not why. Why was there a Big Bang? To the math guys I said Pi is not an infinite number, it lies between 3.14 and 3.15 and that nothing goes on forever. While it may be convenient to think so, it isn’t true.
My Dad always asked us why we knew anything. It was a tough one and always came down to we knew what we knew because someone had told us. His response always was how do they know what they know. Of course, he was, in a way, asking us to always ‘fact check’ and think for ourselves as much as we could about anything. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that why is the question beyond data, beyond fact, beyond what is. It is the question that holds the greatest power. Why are their atoms, not how, but why? Why do they exist in the first place? Quantums, energy packets, yes, but why that?
It becomes the essence and true nature of, and reason for, philosophy. Why is the grand quest and some go to the supernatural, Socrates, and religions, the simplest answer to why, becomes the answer for most. If it becomes unanswerable then a higher power, intellect, must be responsible. They, or it made it that way. And we are in awe of such power. Or the question is ignored and it is just the way things are.
Why is the ultimate question, it implies an enormous knowledge and power. Are we sufficiently knowledgable to answer it? Can one ever know enough to master it? Is it that complicated, or is it dead simple and under our nose as I write?
So, we come to the philosophical point where we just don’t know the answer to why, may never know in the end. Its uncomfortable at best to be left with such a conclusion. It’s easier to dump it in the lap of some higher power and conjure up how this being applies the answers to us than to be patient and wait for the answer to be revealed at some time. Maybe it is a higher power, but then I would ask that being why do you exist? I don’t know if St. Peter, or whom ever, will let me in if he knows I’m going to ask that question. If he, she, it, were to let me in and ask my question why, would I be able to understand the answer?
I would lay odds that some would say why cannot be answered because it is not a strictly rational question. It requires such a depth of thought that human emotion takes over and offers up an irrational response, like a mystical superpower. “Yes, yes, that’s it, it must be that! All hail the big kahuna!” Whew, what an emotional relief, glad that question is off my plate, now back to how to make everything work, aka theology.
Personally, I think why can be answered, but we are not yet capable of doing so as we still have many how’s to sort out. It is a hierarchy of questioning that we are involved in and we have not gone far enough up the ladder to individually see, let alone conceive of, why.
At this point I find why to be incomprehensible, but I long for it. Perhaps death provides the answer, I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t, but remain hopeful that it may.
A long read, very personal, and I’m not sure it answers your question.