# Is the Universe aware of itself? Without us? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 11, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519 "2007-03-11T21:21:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/1 "2007-03-11T21:21:24Z")
That’s about it. If we humans were to blink out all of a sudden, would there even BE a Universe? If so, what for? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/2 "2007-03-11T21:26:50Z")
Is there any reason to believe the universe has awareness? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/3 "2007-03-11T21:29:58Z")
…or that there has to be a purpose for its existence? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/4 "2007-03-11T21:31:50Z")
…or that it wouldn’t be there if we were not? That’s awfully egocentric of us, no? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/5 "2007-03-11T21:32:37Z")
Or that somehow we’re important enough that EVEN IF it does have a purpose, we’re in any way related to that purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/6 "2007-03-11T21:34:12Z")
[QUOTE=Jake] That’s about it. If we humans were to blink out all of a sudden, would there even BE a Universe? If so, what for? [/QUOTE] There is no evidence to show that the existence of humanity is anything but an accident, serendipitous for us of course, but an accident nonetheless. And based on our understanding of history, albeit imperfect, it would seem the universe got along just fine before we arrived and will continue to do so after we have departed. Wise-ass answer; The universe isn’t here for US, it’s here for the dolphins! ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/7 "2007-03-11T21:38:50Z")
[QUOTE=Rhubarb] The universe isn’t here for US, it’s here for the dolphins! [/QUOTE] Well Duuhhh!! Chip, chip, chip. cheep, cheep, cheep. Clickclickclickclick… ---
**Author:** ![Thirty-Nine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@Thirty-Nine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirty-Nine)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/8 "2007-03-11T21:42:48Z")
But what if… our whole solar system… was, like… one tiny atom in the fingernail of some other giant being? ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/9 "2007-03-11T21:54:30Z")
[QUOTE=Thirty-Nine] But what if… our whole solar system… was, like… one tiny atom in the fingernail of some other giant being? [/QUOTE] That’s why you should really look at your hand. I mean, really, _really_ look at your hand. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/10 "2007-03-11T22:04:28Z")
Thanks for the responses so far. But, when I croak, the Universe dosn’t exist for Me anymore, because **I** won’t exist. Guess I’m getting into deep shit here. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/11 "2007-03-11T22:05:27Z")
[QUOTE=Jake] But, when I croak, the Universe dosn’t exist for Me anymore, because **I** won’t exist. Guess I’m getting into deep shit here. [/QUOTE] The universe won’t care. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/12 "2007-03-11T22:08:20Z")
All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/13 "2007-03-11T22:12:06Z")
[QUOTE=Jake] Thanks for the responses so far. But, when I croak, the Universe dosn’t exist for Me anymore, because **I** won’t exist. Guess I’m getting into deep shit here. [/QUOTE] As the adherents of Bokonism say when they commit suicide, “Thus, I destroy the world.” ---
**Author:** ![aluminumdisc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@aluminumdisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aluminumdisc)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/14 "2007-03-11T22:31:14Z")
[QUOTE=postcards] That’s why you should really look at your hand. I mean, really, _really_ look at your hand. [/QUOTE] Thank you Dr. Albert Hofmann. Now where is my bicycle? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/15 "2007-03-11T23:07:12Z")
[QUOTE=Jake] Thanks for the responses so far. But, when I croak, the Universe dosn’t exist for Me anymore, because **I** won’t exist. Guess I’m getting into deep shit here. [/QUOTE] And that’s why it’s moved to Great Debates. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/16 "2007-03-11T23:59:46Z")
[QUOTE=postcards] That’s why you should really look at your hand. I mean, really, _really_ look at your hand. [/QUOTE] OH MY GOD!! My hands are HUGE!!! Oh wait. Was that outloud? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/17 "2007-03-12T00:04:08Z")
We are part of the universe, not separate from it, therefore the universe is aware of itself through any conscious entity which it produces. The OP’s question appears to presume that humans are the only sentient beings in the universe. We have no reason to presume that. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/18 "2007-03-12T00:07:04Z")
[QUOTE=LSLGuy] Or that somehow we’re important enough that EVEN IF it does have a purpose, we’re in any way related to that purpose? [/QUOTE] Well, if we are the only sentient life, we ARE that important. “Important” and “purpose” are concepts created/imposed by sentient minds; if we are alone, then we are as important as we say we are, and the purpose of the universe is what we say it is. That of course is assuming that we could ever actually agree on either as a species. And if we aren’t alone, not only is the question of purpose/importance more complicated, it sort of negates the OP. It does seem to assume that there’s no one but us. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/19 "2007-03-12T00:09:10Z")
Our awareness is a subset of universe. I don’t know that “the universe itself is conscious” is the best or most accurate way of expressing it (although I think it’s a far closer rendition than “the universe is not conscious”), but whatever quality the universe as a whole possesses, it’s larger than consciousness, not smaller, and consciousness is subsumed within it. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519/20 "2007-03-12T00:12:07Z")
Hmmm…I recall something about a “Gaia Theory” which suggested that Earth’s ecosystem was a single, colony life form, possibly intelligent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-universe-aware-of-itself-without-us/395519.md?page=2)