Can you prove..?

Question

(useing subjective reality) that i really exist? Or, can you prove to me that you really exist? If you have to, abandon logic, if it does not serve you, I want you to be creative and convincing.

Answer 1

"Proof" is a word that is misused as much as the word "Theory".

True proof is only possible in mathematics. And Gödel's Incompleteness Theorem proves that no formal mathematical system can ever be both complete and consistent. So even in mathematics there are things that are 'true' that cannot be proven true.

Another word that is misused is "belief". Some people try to equate it to "faith". This is a shame, because even though I am an atheist, I find the word "belief" to be extremely useful. Being mathematically inclined, I think of beliefs as having a probabiity of being true. Some of my beliefs have probabilities better than 99.999999% of being true (e.g. that the sun will rise tomorrow). I believe that the God of the Hebrew Bible is just a myth, with a probability that is maybe less than that for the sun rising tomorrow, but pretty darn close. Neither of these beliefs can be proved to be true. (well, the first one will be proved tomorrow morning, but I can't prove it tonight).

Ultimately, everying I believe takes place as some electric-chemical process inside my brain. In a way, it's amazing that there is anything about this world that is believable with levels approaching "proof".

Answer 2

A wise scientist once said, "There is no proof in science outside pure mathematics."

So no, I can't prove those things. However, there are empirically accessible data which point strongly in the direction of your existence. If I wanted to, I could test and expand those data significantly. That is, I have good reason for believing that you exist.

If you're making an argument for theism here, it falls short, since there are no observable phenomena which suggest the existence of God with anything approaching the convincing character of those phenomena which suggest your existence. Sorry.

Answer 3

It all depends on your terminology of existence doesn't it?

If that means that you are an individual, unique, no one else like you, no one else knows your thoughts but you and God alone.

Then you show that by your very acknowledgment of others to their existence of your own, because you know them, by how you percieve yourself. So when you look at another person you determine their own individual living system in association with your understanding of who you are.

next you realize by physical substance something that is so identifiable to yourself, but it is not yourself. You see someone having the same features but it is not you - this gives you a personal identity thus qualifying your existence as a person.

next you look in a mirror, by that, you can tell that it is your reflection and not someone that is totally identical to you even identical twins, who share the same genetic sequence have subtle differences that show that they have originality if even shared reality but by one degree of separation.

next you can speak out loud, generally, there are those who are deaf and some who cannot speak, but when they do verbalize all people at a certain age begin to acquire self realization that I hear myself, I can tell the difference between all others, but when I hear my voice - I know its me! - thus you also know its not you.

I know you exist, though I have never met you, and unless you are a Christian and go to Heaven I will never ever meet you. But that does not say you dont exist. You posed a question that came from an individual, you had a thought, whether it was original or not, and you have had original thoughts billions of them besides this one that shows you exist, else you could not pose a question to someone else and expect an answer with which you could postulate whether you agreed or disagreed with my viewpoint on how I have answered your question.

Answer 4

Who doesn't exist? Did somebody ask a question? I thought I had a purpose to write this. Oh, well. I gotta stop eating late at night. Now I'm seeing things.

Answer 5

"I think therefore I am" by Descartes does not prove existence.

But the fact that I am answering your question must prove that someone has asked a question and someone is answering it.

Answer 6

You don't exist to me. You're just text and a picture that my eyes are seeing.

Answer 7

Strictly speaking, the only thing anyone can know for certain is "I think, therefore I am". Everything else is axiomatic.

Answer 8

please! Please!! put down the crack pipe!!!!