Can we ever really know reality?

I do not think it is not real...nor have I ever asserted it is not real

But I do not KNOW it is real.

I know I do not know it is real...which is what I actually stated.

There is a difference.

In any case, on many occasions I have posted that I often use the word "know" to denote things like "I know the name on my birth certificate is Frank Apisa" and "I know I am at the keyboard in my den typing."

But in the structured setting of what we are discussing, the discussion must be more rigorous.

If you do not understand this, there are some interesting threads about movies and television shows you might want to involve yourself with.

Quote:

I do not think it is not real...nor have I ever asserted it is not real

But I do not KNOW it is real.

I know I do not know it is real...which is what I actually stated.

There is a difference.

In any case, on many occasions I have posted that I often use the word "know" to denote things like "I know the name on my birth certificate is Frank Apisa" and "I know I am at the keyboard in my den typing."

But in the structured setting of what we are discussing, the discussion must be more rigorous.

If you do not understand this, there are some interesting threads about movies and television shows you might want to involve yourself with.

Oh, come on.

Don't come here with word playing, semantics and faking being another pioneer for a Royal English Academy.

Just answer: you don't know if the computer in front of you is real.

Why?

Give a plain explanation of such a doubt of yours.

But frankly, compared with some of the stuff that has been peddled here in the last few years, your nonsense is pedestrian at best.

Quote:

But frankly, compared with some of the stuff that has been peddled here in the last few years, your nonsense is pedestrian at best.

Alas, your involvement with him is indicative of the only level of dialogue you are likely to get.

Actually, Carlos is merely reinforcing the daily (non-metaphysical) usage of the word "reality" and suggesting you would be a fool to deny those contexts. My position is merely to take go step further by saying that such contextual usage is all that can be said about "reality".

Carlos...I have answered the question.

You are one of those people who come onto the Internet...with delusions of grandeur. You are going to "teach" us those things that you know...that all of us simply do not.

I do not know if anything is real, Carlos...and neither do you. Everything may be an illusion...of a shared mind of some sort.

But if you sleep better and feel better about yourself with YOUR delusions of grandeur...and your delusions that you KNOW the REALITY...fine with me. In fact, I'm happy for you.

But frankly, compared with some of the stuff that has been peddled here in the last few years, your nonsense is pedestrian at best.

Quote:

Carlos...I have answered the question.

You are one of those people who come onto the Internet...with delusions of grandeur. You are going to "teach" us those things that you know...that all of us simply do not.

I do not know if anything is real, Carlos...and neither do you. Everything may be an illusion...of a shared mind of some sort.

But if you sleep better and feel better about yourself with YOUR delusions of grandeur...and your delusions that you KNOW the REALITY...fine with me. In fact, I'm happy for you.

But frankly, compared with some of the stuff that has been peddled here in the last few years, your nonsense is pedestrian at best.

So, you don't know if the computer in front of you is real and you can't explain at all why you think so.

What a dump! Lol.

Besides your flowered expressions in this discussion, I can see that the grey hair of the icon in your avatar has changed for nothing... you have not collected wisdom thru the years...

No. There is not "one more thing". Your vacuous mantra is the intellectual equivalent of "the Emperor's New Clothes".

Sue the tailors Frank ! There may be still time to redeem your heavy investment. Consider it a test of that "ethical wherewithal" that you are so keen to to try to beat others over the head with.

OK, this has escalated since I last checked.

I realise that I didn't quote you last time, and not doing that meant that my point didn't come across at all.

Just thought I'd say that I no longer care about this question, as over the last few days I've realised that it doesn't actually matter that much. So far as anyone seems to be concerned, we all seem to get along in life fairly well assuming that we can know reality for what it is, and often this assumption works in our favour.
What's more, the question does not seem to have much bearing on matters that seem more pertinent, such as questions concerning the direction of one's life, self-enhancement, practical knowledge etc. Although reflecting on questions such as these may relate to enhancing oneself, through deepening one's understanding of reality, at bottom the question is just an intellectual curiosity, something to mull over occasionally when one is in the mood for such things.
And if there is one thing I know the reality of, it is my mood.

Quote:

Carlos...I have answered the question.

You are one of those people who come onto the Internet...with delusions of grandeur. You are going to "teach" us those things that you know...that all of us simply do not.

I do not know if anything is real, Carlos...and neither do you. Everything may be an illusion...of a shared mind of some sort.

But if you sleep better and feel better about yourself with YOUR delusions of grandeur...and your delusions that you KNOW the REALITY...fine with me. In fact, I'm happy for you.

But frankly, compared with some of the stuff that has been peddled here in the last few years, your nonsense is pedestrian at best.

So, you don't know if the computer in front of you is real and you can't explain at all why you think so.

What a dump! Lol.

Besides your flowered expressions in this discussion, I can see that the grey hair of the icon in your avatar has changed for nothing... you have not collected wisdom thru the years...

carloslebaron wrote:

Quote:

Carlos...I have answered the question.

You are one of those people who come onto the Internet...with delusions of grandeur. You are going to "teach" us those things that you know...that all of us simply do not.

I do not know if anything is real, Carlos...and neither do you. Everything may be an illusion...of a shared mind of some sort.

But if you sleep better and feel better about yourself with YOUR delusions of grandeur...and your delusions that you KNOW the REALITY...fine with me. In fact, I'm happy for you.

But frankly, compared with some of the stuff that has been peddled here in the last few years, your nonsense is pedestrian at best.

So, you don't know if the computer in front of you is real and you can't explain at all why you think so.

What a dump! Lol.

Besides your flowered expressions in this discussion, I can see that the grey hair of the icon in your avatar has changed for nothing... you have not collected wisdom thru the years...

Beg pardon for barging in on something that's none of my business. Do tell me to butt out if my observations aren't welcome. But just as an academic exercise:

Consider the statements, "You are one of those people who..."
and
"I do not know if anything is real..."

The former is a truth statement, a statement of (presumed) knowledge. The latter contradicts it.

Not being inside the writer's mind, I don't know whether this is anything more than a temporary lapse in verbal discipline or an indication of a deeper problem with consistency in approach or concept, but if I were the interlocutor in this exchange, I would investigate.

Sorry if this was an unwelcome observation.