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Why do we need to sleep?

Why do I need to sleep? Not the "purpose", but what is the philosophical reason? I don't get it.?

  • Why do we have to sleep? Why couldn't we have been designed to not sleep? I know that sleep helps the body to rebuild, to reorganize the thoughts, etc. etc. That's the PURPOSE of sleep. However, I want to know WHY? Why are we made this way? What are your thoughts?

  • Answer:

    If answering the purpose does not satisfy why I can only suppose you seek to reduce understanding to its most foundational axiom or self evident truth. This requires that a metaphysical distinction be made and that distinction must proceed as follows to have any reasonable or intelligible merit. If any existence exists, then this must necessarily indicate that a totality in absence of existence is not possible. Existence obviously exists, therefor the totality of an absence in existence is not possible. This is the ultimate why of any further purpose or distinction within the set of existence, and also an indication that the alternative precludes all inquiry, to the ultimate of moot. So... An existing anything categorically eliminates the possibility that there is an absence of existences or a totality of nothing is the why. To add further, explaining the how in step by step process requires us to assume that it is a step by step process and that we consent to some standard of proof which would satisfy the reasonable skeptic. So it seems you have asked a lot from those who you have tasked to answer your "why" We must assume that you are reasonable, that your standards of proof are rational, and that once supplied with the answer you won't simply continue to keep asking why. I thought to head off such a line by establishing as reasonable a foundation as my rational capacity affords me. Hopefully it satisfies the intent of your inquiry.

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I don't know. I figure everything that is in the world is not purposeful. I suppose it has just happened that way. For me I sometimes get the sense that physiologically, even neurologically, we want nourishment like sleep because we're regular matter, just organisms. But the psyche never really seems to fully stop, and it never shows any sign of weariness. It helps you wrap your head around eternal concepts more, states of divinity. It's sort of an opposite to being human and its properties are mostly unaffected by sustenance. An everlasting, or longer lasting, energy of consciousness we are only half conscious of as it is. I don't know. I just feel like dreams are the sort of meeting point for that.

M

You've pretty much explained why. I don't know that there is a "philosophy" of sleep. Its a necessity borne of the way we are designed. Its like asking why do we have to eat? I know we need the nutrition to keep our bodies functioning properly, but why? We are organic. Everything on earth needs air, food and a period of dormancy in order to exist. Even mold. Why are we made this way? Because we evolved from organisms which were made this way. It sounds like you are a deep thinker and I'm sure your talents in that regard could be put to better use.

deb.peg1

Anything that functions also needs either recovery, or maintenance. Your body and brain needs both. Phylosophically, sleep helps you filter what you'e learned during your waking hours, it helps process and store information in different parts of your brain, and maybe even helps you take decisions that matter. If you call that phylosophy, I don't, but hey. I tried. go to sleep.

nismofo

My thoughts...lay off the psychedelic drugs, dear...and get some damned sleep! The alternative being insanity and death...so yeah, a purpose? To avoid insanity and death...should be enough...

Nancy Kay

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