Proof Mind is Fundamental and Matter Doesn't Exist

[Rational AKD]

I agree that in the "world we experience" there is no matter, so to speak. We are receiving only an interpretation of reality, if there is one. The question is whether or not our interpretations have come from actual matter or not. This is something we can simply never know, as far as I'm concerned. We can't investigate.

this is certainly a very reasonable conclusion. postulating a material substance isn't parsimonious of verifiable. there's nothing a material substance can explain that our minds can't. and there's no way to know what this material is apart from our mental interpretations which we also cannot verify to be accurate.

So to just assume there isn't any doesn't seem justified to me. Things would seem the same to us if there was, or if there wasn't. That is the problem of solipsism. In practical terms, it doesn't matter which is true.

when it comes to how you directly interact with the world you're right, it makes no difference. but it does make a difference if you look into the philosophical implications of the metaphysical model. I would first argue that idealism is more reasonable than solipsism because we seem to be in control of our own thoughts but we aren't in control of the world in the same way. if the world is merely our own mental fantasy, then there should be no difference between our own thoughts and the fantasy world derived from our thoughts. but since there is, I would say that's reason to suspect it is not derived from our thoughts but rather someone else's. thus you have monistic idealism in place of solipsism. but if the world is derived from someone else's thoughts, the only way we could have a connection is if we are also part of their thoughts (since all that exists in idealism is mind, the only connection is by mind). so this mind would contain all other minds, and be simulating the world we experience. nothing would exist apart from this mind, thus it would contain all the knowledge there is and have full control of the world since it's really all his thoughts... you can probably see that I'm saying idealism implies theism. and theism has personal religious implications which can affect how you live your life.

But proving there isn't anything "out there"? I think that's beyond our scope. Certainly beyond the scope of mere philosophy.

I would argue that the very possibility only mind exists, that I see you've already agreed to, proves monistic idealism is true. if there is a possible world where only mind exists, and mind is the same in every possible world (by Leibniz Law), then there is no difference between mind in a possible solipsist world and mind in reality. therefore, it follows mind is not reducible to matter. and if substance dualism is false, then it follows all is mind, and monistic idealism entails.