Can we really know anything about the future?

complimentarymatters · November 12th, 2007, 4:19 pm

Can we really know anything about the future? Since it hasn't happened yet, how can we know anything about the future for sure?

NSUSA · Post by **NSUSA** » December 11th, 2007, 3:45 am

I think the future is usually harder to know about then things that have already passed. That's because we can never observe the future firsthand, nor can we use direct evidence. We need to predict the future.

coffeeprincess · Post by **coffeeprincess** » February 4th, 2008, 9:57 am

I believe in differential calculus. Our knowledge of the future is directly proportional to our understanding of the variable that create it.

Invictus_88 · Post by **Invictus_88** » February 6th, 2008, 2:53 pm

NSUSA wrote:I think the future is usually harder to know about then things that have already passed. That's because we can never observe the future firsthand, nor can we use direct evidence. We need to predict the future.

That goes without saying. The important thing is that the future is of such imperative importance that is must be explored, even if our methods of prediction are manifestly imperfect.

anarchyisbliss · Post by **anarchyisbliss** » February 29th, 2008, 4:06 pm

someone once told me the best way to predict the future is to create it

coffeeprincess · Post by **coffeeprincess** » February 29th, 2008, 4:13 pm

They were lying.

If we have any sense at all, as you say Invictus, we should use it even if it fails at times.

Like Astrology. And the relative size of planets, and the theory of relativity, and some other things I can't talk about here.

anarchyisbliss · Post by **anarchyisbliss** » February 29th, 2008, 4:26 pm

coffeeprincess wrote:They were lying.

If we have any sense at all, as you say Invictus, we should use it even if it fails at times.

Like Astrology. And the relative size of planets, and the theory of relativity, and some other things I can't talk about here.

seriously if I were to say that tomorrow i will go apply for a job, then tomorrow i walk out my door go to McDonald s and apply for a job i have created the future

Edward J. Bartek · Post by **Edward J. Bartek** » July 14th, 2008, 2:26 pm

To predict is to control. Any farmer can predict by the natural calendar to control his crops. Any natural cycle may bepredicted accurately,like the planetary and tidal cycles.

Predictable human cycles differ, for man has free will tocontradict any prediction of him. Prediction of his physical natural body may be predicted, but this may be contradicted by his spiritual depression or rational free will.

Collective statistical prediction of man may be relatively accurate, but that of individual man will e to a lesser degree.

nameless · Post by **nameless** » July 14th, 2008, 3:10 pm

anarchyisbliss wrote:seriously if I were to say that tomorrow i will go apply for a job, then tomorrow i walk out my door go to McDonald s and apply for a job i have created the future

Thats one egoic way to interpret that. Another way would be to call it simple coincidence. There is nothing, necessarily, connecting your 'plan' and the 'event'. How many times have you planned something and it has not manifested as planned? Ego doesn't like to remember them, eh?

nameless · Post by **nameless** » July 14th, 2008, 3:23 pm

complimentarymatters wrote:Can we really know anything about the future? Since it hasn't happened yet, how can we know anything about the future for sure?

Temporal linearity is just one Perspective. Existence is a simultaneous existence of all moments, ever. There are many instances of people 'seeing' (what appears to be) the 'future'. In 'Reality' there is just Now. Sometimes we 'see' another Now. I have done it, do it, many have. Deja vous is one manifestation of such. We do not 'see the future', we merely see 'Now'. It has no more to do with 'prediction' as your very present Now does. You needn't 'predict' it, you need only to open your eyes and 'live' it. Same thing with being aware of other moments, if one isn't locked to rigidly in the linear Perspective....