The Ocean of Diarrhea

What assumptions can be made about existence? This question, the question regarding the essence of life, the veritable meaning of life, has been the center of philosophy since the advent of complex logical thought. For if a man could understand the essence of existence than he could, theoretically, better understand all components of that mentioned existence. There have been a plethora of theories. Aristotle once proposed that the essence of existence is intellectual discussion. The theory is simple enough, and is based in his struggles to categorize forms. He claimed that forms can never be properly perceived by humans, that the actual form of an object can only be observed by supernatural entities, but that one can begin to understand that form through discussion and thought. Therefor, he claimed, that the essence of existence is thought.

Even through defining it, attempting to perceive its existence, a human, let alone a teenager, could never truly understand existence. Beyond that a human could never truly apply a fundamental understanding of existence to all its components. The idea that a micro-understanding of life could be accomplished through a macro-understanding of existence, is fundamentally untenable, as even that understanding could not aid the human in progressing through everyone of life's infinite experience. Furthermore, the aforementioned theory fails to acknowledge the distinction between life and existence. Life refers to the metaphorical ocean of experiences, each rooted in one moment amongst millions, that each of us must face. Existence refers to the meta-paradigm for life as an explanation of our role in the universe. This distinction brings to light the logical failures of a theory that proposes that an understanding of either could foster a complete, applicable and functioning understanding of its counterpart.

Beyond these heavy questions, exists the individual. The person that each of us perceives as "me". Each "me" independently orienting itself to move along a mentally prescribed path through life, strives to connect to a number of other me's. Each of these connections changes both of the involved me's in a manner that cannot truly be understood by either me. The effects of these connections are often based in the nature of the connection, each sub-catergory of connections having a list of potential intangible effects on the me's involved. Furthermore, each moment of the meta-connection is subject to hundreds of potential connections, coalescing to form the entire. The question than becomes: Are these effects positive or negative? An optimist could claim that every connection, even if its immediate effect is perceived as negative can be categorized as a positive experience for both me's. A pessimist could claim that every connection is negative due to it insubstantiality and impermanence. I believe that it is impossible for anyone to understand the effects of any connection. Therein, connections simply become an abstract manifestation of the human potential and the possibility of all things, a means of effecting, being effected and understanding your surroundings. My grand-da once said "A man can never truly understand the value of his life, until he can perceive the ripples that his existence has caused in the lives of those he knows and those that he shall never meet". Those ripples give meaning, value, and purpose to every life.