(September 15, 2015 at 1:19 am)robvalue Wrote: Solipsism could be impossible, but not demonstrably so. To announce it is possible because it can't be proved impossible is, as Jorg says, the classic argument from ignorance.well perhaps I should have worded it differently for clarity. solipsism can't be proven true or false by use of our external world experience alone. this isn't to say it can't be proven false at all, just a logical inconsistency must be demonstrated to do so. however, it would be irrational to believe it is logically inconsistent without demonstrating it first.
Going back to what I said, you may currently be dreaming and you think you've proved something to various figments of your imagination during the dream that "minds cannot exist in this dream". That is your best case scenario, and it doesn't preclude you waking up and realising this dream makes no sense to anything. You also have some figments well trained in dream logic opposing you, so I guess you should be proud of your ability to counter your own arguments
It also raises the problem of what "exist" actually means. This isn't trivial. Does anything in a dream world exist, or not?
as for your 'dream' example, I remind you i'm not arguing for solipsism. I just used it in my premises but i'm arguing for monistic idealism.
well if all is mind, then the word 'exists' can only be used for minds and the illusionary experiences they have as that's all there is. however, you can distinguish the nature of their existence by elaborating details.
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use and by some other means to give us knowledge which we can attain by them.
-Galileo
-Galileo
