On Sun, Feb 16, 2014 at 01:40:15PM -0800, Edgar L. Owen wrote:
> Russell,
> 
> Well, there is overwhelming evidence of many sorts. The very fact that you 
> and I can even communicate about this issue is one proof, unless you think 
> I'm just a pesky figment of your imagination!

It is evidence only of an intersubjective reality. That there is a
common reality (to us) that we can agree on. Indeed, COMP, to take one
theory of consciousness, predicts the existence of such an intersubjective
reality. But, it is not evidence of a reality independent of all
observers.

> 
> And of course that can't possibly be true since I was here just fine before 
> I ever met you....
> 
> The obvious fact that we have to eat and breathe to survive, unless you 
> believe that just imagining food and oxygen is enough to sustain us.
> 

That is evidence of the Anthropic Principle (there is much stronger
evidence of that too), ie what we observe as reality must be
consistent with our existence within that reality. The Anthropic Principle
does not imply an observer independent reality - that would be a
reverse syllogism fallacy.

> So again I would say you are confusing the internal simulation of reality 
> that all minds produce, and that everyone thinks is the real world he lives 
> in, with the real external reality that all minds simulate each in their 
> own way.
> 

Keep going. You still haven't provided any evidence that this "real
external reality" actually exists! Until you do so, I will state that
there is nothing here to confuse. Of course, if you actually succeed,
not only will many people be surprised, you will undoubtedly be the
most famous philosopher since Aristotle and Plato.

Cheers

-- 

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Prof Russell Standish                  Phone 0425 253119 (mobile)
Principal, High Performance Coders
Visiting Professor of Mathematics      hpco...@hpcoders.com.au
University of New South Wales          http://www.hpcoders.com.au
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