The Truth; You Exist

[FallentoReason]

While I agree with most of it, I'd question this one "our ability to know that we definitely know the truth is impaired by the information we receive".

I think you'd agree that the information we get correctly corresponds to the state of things as they actually were when it was created. That is, 8 minutes ago, the sun actually was how we are perceiving it now. So, while there may be delay in transmission, alterations in the information on its way (such a the sun is not actually yellow) and sometimes problems in perception, we still can mostly trust them.

I'd say that the furthest we can go in knowing the truth is knowing the nature of the information that we are receiving. Like how we know that black holes distort the trajectort of light itself therefore we can know that our observations might not entirely reflect the truth.

For example (and because the 8 minute gap is too short), suppose all humans have left the earth and are now inhabiting a planet 5000 light years away. Suppose they then observe the sun and see that, according to their perspective, the earth is still intact. By their previous observations, they know a few facts - that the earth would be destroyed in that phase and the sun is actually 5000 light years away. Now, because they are aware of the time delay in information, they can correctly state the current state of the earth - non-existent. Thus, our knowledge of reality is not completely at the mercy of universe.

If the sun imploded right now and right now I see it and unimploded, I would be making a false statement for the next 8 minutes that the sun is just fine. However, knowledge about the 8 minute delay in leading to outdated information as well as any other perceptions regarding an imminent implosion, may allow me to correctly state "the sun has imploded", inspite of the current observation to the contrary.

Both times you have made the mistake of thinking you know that you know it's true because you understand the limitation imposed on us.

Let's go with the 8 minute delay again because it's a real life case. So we've established that the information we receive was true 8 minutes ago. Now, if we make the statement 'the sun just imploded then' what evidence do we have of this? The evidence confirming your baseless assertion is yet to come in 8 minutes. Therefore you can only think you know the truth but you won't know that you know the truth, if this statement was even correct. See the problem? You just won't know until after 8 minutes which will then either confirm the statement as true back then or false. It's impossible to know simultaneously that it imploded. You're at the mercy of time.