Do we exist? Options

[circastes]

Is there really nothing there at all?

What proof do we have that anything exists?

I'm supposed to believe 'I' exist, that it's a foregone conclusion, but I don't feel that anymore.

If there is nothing there, then what is it that persists?

Does anything persist or are there only mental constructs?

I made Cinderella appear out of thin air. She walked down my street and I was too bewildered to follow. I regret not following her now.

Seriously.

[Rick]

So make her appear again and follow her! Let me know how it goes.

Do you need proof that anything exists? Mental constructs are things.

[Hey Hey]

Mental constructs are things.

Don't 'things' have location (sic).

[Rick]

Not necessarily. "Things" are that which have existence. There are mental things and physical things. Mental constructs are not necessarily conscious, but they still exist. Physical things have locations. Mental things may not depending on viewpoint. If one considers mental constructs to be neural activity, the involved neurons have locations. If one considers mental constructs as pure form, then they have no location. See what too much reason gets you? (no, not confusion!)

I'm pretty sure consciousness has no location, but it's not a mental construct. It's kind of a substance to fill the form, except those words are not really appropriate, merely a metaphore.

[Hey Hey]

Not necessarily. "Things" are that which have existence. There are mental things and physical things. Mental constructs are not necessarily conscious, but they still exist. Physical things have locations. Mental things may not depending on viewpoint. If one considers mental constructs to be neural activity, the involved neurons have locations. If one considers mental constructs as pure form, then they have no location. See what too much reason gets you? (no, not confusion!)

I'm pretty sure consciousness has no location, but it's not a mental construct. It's kind of a substance to fill the form, except those words are not really appropriate, merely a metaphore.

Are all mental 'things' reproducible? If not then 'scientifically' can they be real, true, evidenced? You know why I brought this up again, the location issue.

[Rick]

That's precisely why the consciousness problem is so difficult. It doesn't lend itself to observation in the traditional scientific sense that one person's observations are independently verifiable.

Just because it's not science (in the conventional sense) doesn't mean it's not real. Science will have to grow somehow to get a handle on this. That's where philosophers might help. Maybe not.

It's fairly interesting (to me) to experience consciousness in itself and wonder "where is it?" I don't have an answer, but I know it's "there." But it seems like an important question, doesn't it?

[Hey Hey]

That's precisely why the consciousness problem is so difficult. It doesn't lend itself to observation in the traditional scientific sense that one person's observations are independently verifiable.

Just because it's not science (in the conventional sense) doesn't mean it's not real. Science will have to grow somehow to get a handle on this. That's where philosophers might help. Maybe not.

It's fairly interesting (to me) to experience consciousness in itself and wonder "where is it?" I don't have an answer, but I know it's "there." But it seems like an important question, doesn't it?

It's not so tough if it doesn't exist ... eh?

[Rick]

Or if it exists and doesn't matter. Let's go back to sleep.