George F. R. Ellis - What are the Ultimate Questions of All Reality?

What are the most fundamental questions, the most penetrating questions, that we can ask of all reality? Stretch your mind. Envision all manner of things, whether in the physical world or in nonphysical realms (if such exist). Do not admit any constraints. Imagine all that can be. Ask the hardest questions.



George Francis Rayner Ellis is the Emeritus Distinguished Professor of Complex Systems in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.


Closer to Truth presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[jozsefnemeth]

One of the bests episodes and concise. That is where all discussion should start between world views in my opinion, too.

[marillionth]

Such great great questions! And such humbleness and mastery of answers.
Very thankful for your work!

[uninspired]

Nothing this channel loves more than a good deepity.

[bluelotus]

If we identify the driver with his car, we become pointless and find no purpose in the car. But if we see the car as a tool for the driver to go somewhere, then we figure out its purpose.

[iphaze]

Every time I hear people talking about consciousness, no one addresses the idea that what humans perceive as “conscious” could only be one sliver of the entire experience. We can’t see Ultraviolet light yet we are aware of our inability to see it — why can’t we view consciousness in the same way, and treat it as such?

[brigham]

The universe existed (for millions of years or forever) before we were here. Humans have only been on the scene for a brief period of time. The universe is not here for us but we exist because conditions allow for us to exist. And it didn't happen right away. Dinosaurs were here before us. What was their purpose? It only makes sense to me that we give our lives purpose. I don't think there is some ultimate being that gives us purpose. If so, it sure took a long time to "create us" and it sure made a universe out of all proportion just for little old us. Even if there is life on other planets, the amount of empty space and the distance between planets and galaxies is beyond comprehension.

[stunningkruger]

i like to think of it a bit like this… we are all born in time … but are we just born in time and if we are born just in time, what exactly are we born just in time for? Perhaps if it just is … serving time can seem to be something of a life sentience for many leading to problems arising from a diction (for instance : importance or impotence? )

[richlv]

That was a fun interview. Makes you really think. Need to watch a few times

[simplychaotic]

Morals don't need to be in the equation.. Understanding of the information is the only thing needed to be shared in the universe.. the transfer shows progress. The opposing Dualities exist as much as it is Existing as one force..

[timmarshall]

Great conversation which makes absolute sense to me.

[jamesgardner]

GOD ROBERT IS WHERE ALL COME FROM... I believe he is obviously expressing this himself.... Brother James 🙏

[clemsonalum]

Good stuff have had some excellent guests recently

[jamesruscheinski]

Can understanding consciousness in the physical human brain / mind be used to understand consciousness in physical universe / cosmos?

[mintakan]

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice" (~MLK). This certainly applies to human beings, our sense of conscience, meaning, and value.

But I'm not sure we can extrapolate this to all of the universe. The overwhelming evidence seems to suggest it's a largely stochastic amoral process, with no overarching teleology.

[TheLawrence]

So basically consciousness is very special and for being part of this universe it describe the very deep meaning of its existence which is to be conscious about other consciousnesses. Very Deep

[kallianpublico]

What is meaning without language? Are there words whose meaning is independent of individual understanding: are there meanings that are completely objective- self-evident?
Consciousness doesn't require language or communication, it is all impressions. Impressions are "self-evident", language as the communication of Impressions is not self-evident. Language is always consensually evident- you can never be sure you're both talking about the same thing (unless you're talking to yourself).
Ask yourself, what are the impressions behind all words? You will find many words that have no conscious impressions behind them. Words such as purpose, law, or question. Other words do have impressions behind them, hunger, thirst, or heat. The difference between these words is the "self" behind them.
Impressions of hunger have a physical source in our bodies. Impressions of purpose have no physical source, it is an idea whose source is the linguistic mind.
What is the source of the linguistic mind? That seems a good candidate for an "ultimate question".

[stevecoley]

7 metaphysical questions.

1) How do we remove the heavy lead called ignorance (greed) from the springboard of truth (love)...so that the springboard returns to happiness and launches US to heaven (, joy, beauty and harmony)?

2) How do we release the string of lies being pulled by Ignorance (greed)...so that the bow of truth (love) returns to happiness and propels US to heaven (joy, beauty and harmony)?

3) How do we remove the current cornerstone called ignorance (greed) from life and replace it with truth (love)?

4) How do we knock down the wall of lies saying that "life is business' (greed)...so that the truth that "life is art" (creating joy) floods the earth and washes away it's ignorance (hate)?

5) How do we fill a giant black hole in space called ignorance (greed) with light (love)...so that it's darkness (misery, murder, murder, mass shootings, suicides, war, etc ) goes away and it's heavy gravitational pull stops sucking the joy put life?

6) How do we make vampires (greed) who are blind ..see the ignorance of transforming heaven (peace) into hell (war)?

How do we make the clueless counting corpses (vampires) who are blind...see the ignorance of transforming this paradise planet lifeboat into a polluted pig pen?

[PaulHoward]

Meaning is discarded by the reduction of whole concepts to component parts, which dissociates objects from their context. The seemingly meaningless of nature as portrayed by physics is a flaw in the reduction process used in physics.

[simplychaotic]

Progress is the purpose of life.. it's not a meaning of it's Existence.. it is what it is showing.. presenting the truth isn't a purpose to know. It's a Existence to be shown

[madmax]

Odd - I have no problem saying things are wrong/evil while at the same not believing in a moral reality independent of humanity.