Solipism would rule out the possibility of there being 'something' which exists independently from (human) minds. If I've inadvertantly done that, then I apologise, because that is not my intention. Feel free to point it out to me, as I acknowledge that I sometimes tread a fine line. (Precision about that is important for sustaining the integrity of the mind dependent concept, here).I don't follow you, assuming you're not lapsing into solipsism.
I think you're making the distinction here between theoretical models (predictive) and empirical observations(?) Both can be developed by following the scientific process, and there should be an objective test and resulting evidence signifying this.FrumiousBandersnatch said:There is evidence that the predictive model and the external world from which the senses obtain their data are different - and the sensory data itself is used to attempt to minimize the significant differences.
However, one cannot objectively test for the mind independence of the 'external world' part of this. Assuming the existence of such, typically represents a departure from the scientific process.
Having said that, the 'external world' component is typically what we like to believe as 'being true' and the adoption of this belief usually has no impact on the key aspects of what you say above. So I think(?) we're in agreement, with this added qualification.
Ok .. I understand your meaning of 'virtual' then.FrumiousBandersnatch said:It's virtual in as much as we experience a model or simulation of the world our senses detect (what's commonly called the 'real' world).
I also acknowledge that 'real world' is what many of us call 'what we detect by our senses' (incorporating the usual meanings associated with it). However, the process they follow in arriving at those meanings can be retraced (tracked) and is almost always not the scientific process. Whilst the scientific process can be used to do it, the meanings in so doing, are fundamentally different.
Its also fair enough to say that philosophy and science are highly blurred in this forum. I stand for maintaining the distinctions between the two, seeing as most conversations are about topics which acquire their objective meanings by following the scientific process.
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