@fresco,
Quote: But "independent existence" of anything at all is unprovable because it requires at least one observer...The involvement of "an observer" (thinger) is antithetical to "independence".
In other words, as Berkeley put it: "To be is to be perceived." Utter and abject solipsism, sho nuff.
A tree "exists" if, AND ONLY IF, it is "observed" by a subject. As soon as the observer turns his head and looks in a different direction, the tree no longer "exists." If he looks back again to the same direction and if, then, he sees a tree (which he might not, ya know) then now, again the tree exists (but only for so long as it is being looked at).
There is no tree, no "thing." There is ONLY a perception of it. This is Fresky's "non-dualim." It a strict monism. There is no duality of subject and object, because ONLY subjects really exist.
Nevermind that this metaphysical "non-dualism" is a an absolute ontological claim. It is, somehow, "known" to be true by "subject" who "cannot prove anything at all." Who, I wonder, is the observer who gives existence to the observer who then, in turn, deprives all material objects of any "real" or "true" existence?
Good thing Berkeley had an answer for that, too. It's GOD, doncha know?