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Originally Posted by VeggieLover
and here we finally come to the root of the issue (yay!) (no sarcasm intended).
I do, in fact, believe in the same basic reality that you accept. For one thing, its easier, thats what most people believe, including most of the scientists that established what is now considered basic knowledge. In this reality that you and I accept, yes, a tree will fall in the forest and make quite a loud noise.
HOWEVER, when we stick our big toes into the warm waters of alternate perceptions of reality, the issue of the tree becomes infinitly more complicated. The question is no longer 'does a tree falling in the forest still make a sound if no one is there to hear it' but 'does the tree fall at all?' or 'is there a tree?' You and i accept the fact that gravity pulls things toward the center of the earth and that evey so often an old tree will succumb to this force, fall, and make a noise. But, just because we accept it doesnt mean its "true." There are a whole manner of things that "disprove" common scientific beliefs. polarity therepy helps hundreds of people and manages to "exist" in the same reality where gravity holds things down and energy is what makes the lightbulb work.
Western science ignores skads of things, things that eastern science has incorperated for centuries. While im no expert, my step-dad was a polarity therapist, and experienced first hand things that "modern medicine" often writes off as witchcraft or nonsense. The whole concept of "dark matter" and "dark energy" challenge a good deal of what we thought we knew.
It doesn't matter what you believe, there is always going to be some evidence somewhere in some form that could be used to inspire doubt in that foundation -- thus the neccesity of faith. Regardless of what I believe, or what you believe, it is important (in my eyes) to be able to take a step back and see the world in a new and alternative way. It excersises the mind, strengthens the faith, and gives you a new perspective as to whats important in life. It helps you to learn and reduce your ignorance factor. I can maintain the integrity of my basic beliefs while still exploring the possibility of others. If something comes along to change my mind, all the better.
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The thing is, regardless of what you believe, science has made observations that are based on known physical laws. We've observed things, made conclusions, and all agreed on them.
I understand the idea behind illusory perception, and there are a lot of things we could be wrong about... But our very existence as a matter of factual evidence is hardly eligible for debate.. All philosophy aside, it is a matter of simple observational logic that you are able to know you exist. To assume that you don't exist, you effectively nullify the logic that allows you to assume as much, thereby nullifying your assumption.
The fact that I'm replying to something you've typed and you're reading it creates an observational fact between you and I personally, and others who read it, in a spectator sense. If you never read this, it does not change the fact that I typed it, nor does it change the spectators' experience of reading it.
I just have a problem with the argument that everything else in existence is the product of someone's imagination. That would imply that only one person in the universe exists, for he/she would have to be capable of imagining the rest of us. Is it you? Is it me? Who decides?
If this is all a dream, then I guess we have to assume that the person who's dreaming us is god.
You better hope he doesn't wake up...
I just don't think that's an intelligent way to think.