How do you know what is real and what is not? Why do you are certain that you are not dreaming?

Question

I am especially interested in responses from the psychological and quantum physic theory views

Answer 1

Can you define what you mean by real? I can't help you if our definitions aren't consistent. For your second question I'm pretty sure I'm not dreaming because my actions have persistent consequences. When I'm asleep things I do don't matter for long. Dreaming is the state we are in while asleep and processing information, otherwise you're hallucinating.

Answer 2

I think you have to hedge your bets.

Sometimes things happen in "real life" seem to have no reason or rhyme -- much like a dream. And some dreams are incredibly lifelike. But the thing is, you wake up from dreams. But how often have you woken up from life?

Anyway, back to the hedge your bets part: what are the consequences to acting like none of this is real? It *can* be pretty bad. But what are the consequences to pretending it all is real and matters? (-: Well, it *can* be pretty bad, too. But I think the consequences are worse for pretending it doesn't matter. So, I find it best to treat real life as the only life I get, and try to make the most of it.

(-: Even in dreams, I tend to act logically, though.