A hard solipsist argument (Revised)
By well-wisher
Thu, 05 May 2016
- 563 reads
How I came to think of this argument: I asked myself what, other than my own existence, can I be certain of? Then it occurred to me that, if the world is real then dreams exist and if the world is a dream then dreams exist so, which ever is real, dreams would still be real.
The Argument:
Premise 1: The universe is more likely to be a thing that I know for certain exists.
Premise 2: In order for me to say that something exists there must be solid proof or evidence
for its existence.
for its existence.
Premise 3: Unreality is a provable thing. There is solid evidence
that unreality exists. This proof is that "If dreams don't exist they must be a dream of dreams; if illusions don't exist they must be an illusion of illusions thus it is impossible for dreams and illusions not to exist and so they must exist".
that unreality exists. This proof is that "If dreams don't exist they must be a dream of dreams; if illusions don't exist they must be an illusion of illusions thus it is impossible for dreams and illusions not to exist and so they must exist".
Premise 4: Reality isn't a proveable thing. There is no evidence that
reality is not a dream or illusion.
reality is not a dream or illusion.
Conclusion - The universe is more likely to be a dream than reality.
Objection: But you have to define what you mean by 'exists' and define what you mean by 'thing' and define what you mean by 'universe'.
Reply: It would be easier if I can start by defining "Dream". Dream is 'a series of images and sensations occurring in my mind' then from that I can say that existence is 'the happening of or my experience of those images and sensations'. A 'thing' is 'what exists or a specific component of what exists'. The Universe is 'the full content of existence or the sum total of all the images and sensations occurring in my mind'.
Reply: It would be easier if I can start by defining "Dream". Dream is 'a series of images and sensations occurring in my mind' then from that I can say that existence is 'the happening of or my experience of those images and sensations'. A 'thing' is 'what exists or a specific component of what exists'. The Universe is 'the full content of existence or the sum total of all the images and sensations occurring in my mind'.
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