Just because something exists does that necessarily mean its real?

Question

Lies exist but are they real or maybe just actual?

Would this mean things exist that are not real, as in not of this reality?

If so would it be fair to refer to them as being only actual?

Is there a scientific standard to determine what is real and what is not?

Answer 1

No it doesn't neccessarily mean its real just because it exists, take border security for example.

Answer 2

Something that exists is an objective term for that which can be verified by reproducable measurements. It has dimensions, perhaps mass (but not nessecarily) and has measurable effects on other verifiable objects around it (magnetics, gravity, etc.)

Something that is real is a subjective term for those things that you "know" to be. Your thoughts are real, your dreams are real, your god (or gods) are real, but at the same time the keyboard under your fingers is also real. The only proof neccesary of a real object is that you believe it to be real.

Does this mean that 'real' is less valid than 'exist'? That is up to your point of view. Sartre believed that nothing outside of your own thoughts could ever be proven to be real. His logic was that since the only proofs that you could find for things outside your thoughts were other things outside your thoughts, that all external existence was based on circular logic. Thus all external existence was suspect.

Answer 3

First off, you have to define what is the meaning of "something".

Science definition could be (I could be wrong) things with "mass".

Our interpretation of "something" could mean "Anything"

"Thoughts" is something, but you can't prove it exists. You can only measure Brain waves, but that doesn't mean you are measuring "thoughts"

So is "dreams", and so is a lot of "somthings".

However, you cannot say things exist that are not real, because we have to first define what are the "things".

And no, it won't be fair.

There are scientific standard to determine.... if they have "mass", or "wave" or have "energy".... they are real.

Answer 4

One example: magnetics exists, but it is not real because you could not see, touch or feel it.

Answer 5

Quit smoking that sh*t at lunch. Geeeeeeeeeeeezhhh.