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?

6 comments

psyc4 lata temu

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 lata temu

Fully agree. Thanks

bell-cot4 lata temu

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 lata temu

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 lata temu

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

acqbu4 lata temu

Thanks

dave44204 lata temu

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

acqbu4 lata temu

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

thanatos5194 lata temu

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

acqbu4 lata temu

Why?

Procedural4 lata temu

Yes.

acqbu4 lata temu

I think I know what you mean