3 Questions For Believers (A work in progress.)

[Rampant.A.I.]

If I am a product of your mind, the empirical verification still informs me of that which is useful to describe and perform effectively in the reality of that illusion. If it is illusory, there is no functional difference, as it continues to be the reality I inhabit in that scenario.

There is no functional difference *to you*, but yet in that scenario, your functional reality has a feature "other minds exists" that in reality is not true (were that to be the case) - and so, in that case, empiricism has led you to a conclusion which is false.

From whose perspective? The hypothetical solipsistic mind you've failed to demonstrate exists?

Funny how conveniently you allow for special pleading of that premise, yet reject other premises requiring special pleading as unconvincing, isn't it.

You're effectively asking me to prove a negative.

No. I'm asking you to prove that your consciousness is actually extant in the same reality as mine, which makes it necessary for you to examine and eliminate the alternatives. Yes, I'm invoking solipsism - which we eliminate not because we can prove that it is not so, but because it is not a useful position that we can derive knowledge from.

I have no empirical reason to suspect that I am an illusion within a solipsistic mind, and should empirically prove that is not the case.

No, no, no. Prove it to *me*, using only empiricism. I have no doubt that you're sufficiently convinced.

1.

solipsism - which we eliminate not because we can prove that it is not so, but because it is not a useful position that we can derive knowledge from.

knowl·edge
ˈnälij/
noun
1.
facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
"a thirst for knowledge"
synonyms: understanding, comprehension, grasp, command, mastery; More
learning, erudition, education, scholarship, schooling, wisdom
familiarity with, acquaintance with, intimacy with
information, facts, intelligence, news, reports, hot tip;
informalinfo, (the) lowdown
antonyms: ignorance, illiteracy
what is known in a particular field or in total; facts and information.
"the transmission of knowledge"
PHILOSOPHY
true, justified belief; certain understanding, as opposed to opinion.

Does universally useless knowledge exist? If so, what would it consist of? Can you justify a belief in a solipsistic mind?

2. Prove you aren't an alien hybrid bomb programmed with memories of your childhood. If you cannot, you must walk into oncoming traffic to prevent the presidential assassination plot that will plunge the world into a nuclear holocaust

You have been programmed to ignore empirical evidence that would reveal the truth of your hybrid alien bomb nature by a reanimated cyborg clone of Philip K. Dick.

Prove this conjecture is wrong using empirical evidence.

Are you telling me you believe absolutes, such as absolute truth exist objectively?

I most certainly do not. I'm merely suggesting that there are elements of our perceived reality that are not within the realm of empiricism (such as other minds), nor are they necessarily sharable in any real way.

Don't get me wrong, empiricism is an extremely useful tool to discover facts about reality. It isn't without limits, however - and to suggest that it's the *only* way to know anything is an overreach, in my opinion.

So you do not believe in absolutes, yet also believe absolute truth about reality exists, and that absolute reality exists independent of minds that order experiences into a cohesive experience we designate reality?

Can you demonstrate how you came to this knowledge?