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Originally Posted by Shamou  I'm quite certain that I did not write your above quote... if not... someone else did... now, that may not be scientific truth... but it sure is good enough for me...
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What about when you are dreaming Shamou? When asleep, we think we're awake, but does that mean the personalities you meet in your dreams are not you? I realize you are addressing the question from an objective, and maybe even reductionist (correct me if I'm wrong) point of view, but metaphysically speaking, who are we to say what is real and what is not? Maybe we just think we are awake...
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Originally Posted by SecretSeven It's true that you can never prove another's existence, yet does that mean only you exist? Do you believe that consciousness centers on one person, and one person alone? Or do you just have faith that other's are conscious like yourself. |
In my opinion, the question is moot. Call me crazy, but there is no difference between the "imaginary" and the "real". The difference is agreed upon by convention because we occupy a particular reality. I believe all realities exist. The worlds you dream up when you sleep exist. The idle day dreams you have about a different play out of a certain event in your life exist. The strange creatures you imagine exist. You could be occupying a completely different universe right now, with completely different physical laws, or none at all. Consciousness is one, big, seemless, continuum of existence.
Until we develop the capacity to perceive others thoughts, we can never truly know if they have them. After all, most people can only see behavior. They could be nothing but sophisticated androids for all you know. But that doesn't mean there is justification for treating anyone or anything like they don't have consciousness. That's right, I'm advocating dream morality!
Be nice to the people in your dreams.
They could be real.....they might even hold a grudge....
