The burden of proof relating to conciousness, free choice and rationality

[Angrboda]

@ChadWooters:

Actually, my questions were for Marx, but I agree with you in spirit that short of having accepted realism as an assumption, idealism remains a live option (though I generally refer to it as anti-realism, largely on account of the prejudice against both solipsism and Idealism). I have yet to encounter any proof which is able to satisfactorily distinguish between Idealism and realism (for me). However, I don't think that is Marx's starting position, for if it were, the question of determinism would not arise in the way it has.

The questions I ask are ones I ask in the context of realism, and, in which context your claim that pain is "real" requires qualification in what sense you mean real, for it on most accounts is not a material thing, simpliciter. If you are unwilling to either grant, or even simply entertain arguendo the proposition of realism, then our discussion lies elsewhere.