Last post wins.

[baustin42]

Or does it? Would any of the dimensions exist without our ability to observe them?

[brayton]

Good point baustin, we can't just assume an external reality to our existence. That'd be madness in the conventional sense.

M-theory speculates there may be 11 spatial dimensions :O

[TheGreatErenan]

I am going to go on record saying that I think we are rationally justified in assuming an external reality exists.

[Demon]

Aye, greater minds than these have justified such a thing.

[baustin42]

Or, perhaps we projected the idea of greater minds justifying an external reality onto our false reality in order to preserve our own sanity.

[TheGreatErenan]

It doesn't take a great mind. All it takes is phenomenal conservatism or something like it.

Which seems more plausible:

1. Our perceptions of the purported external world occur because there is an external world that we are perceiving.

Or

2. Our perceptions of the purported external world are all delusions that happen for no discernible reason.

In my opinion, 1 is by far more plausible. Given my belief that we are rationally justified in believing those things that seem most plausible unless presented with defeating evidence, I believe that my belief in 1 is rationally justified.

[baustin42]

(10-10-2014 07:58 AM)TheGreatErenan Wrote:  It doesn't take a great mind. All it takes is phenomenal conservatism or something like it.

Which seems more plausible:

1. Our perceptions of the purported external world occur because there is an external world that we are perceiving.

Or

2. Our perceptions of the purported external world are all delusions that happen for no discernible reason.

In my opinion, 1 is by far more plausible. Given my belief that we are rationally justified in believing those things that seem most plausible unless presented with defeating evidence, I believe that my belief in 1 is rationally justified.

You are correct, of course. Rational justification determines the most plausible circumstance, but at the same time, the most plausible circumstance remains unprovable. We are justified in assuming our perceptions are true but cannot logically discount the infinite implausible alternatives.

[Chemoeum]

Maybe water can be used to travel back in time.

[/random]

[baustin42]

If time travel were possible I'm sure it would involve water in some integral way.

[Demon]

Time travel (at least backwards) is not possible and never will be. Nearly all physicists agree on this.

Now teleportation…