How do we know for sure there is a world outside our minds?

Question

How do we know for sure there is a world outside our minds?

Answer 1

We cannot. We do, however, believe it with great certainty and it is very useful to hold this belief (i.e. we can live our lives).

Just like with most things we "know", we cannot be absolutely sure. This is true of all scientific knowledge, as it does not come from necessary conclusions, but rather a process of induction (which itself relies on sense perception). However, it would be ridiculous to ignore scientific knowledge just because we are not 100% sure... look at its applications! (i.e. Yahoo Answers)

Descartes doubted the nature of reality and concluded that the only thing he could be "sure" of was that he doubted-- he could not be certain he existed in the form he believed or that his perceptions corresponded to reality (whatever that may be)-- but only that he must exist in some form, as he doubted. He knew that something must be there to doubt-- commonly quoted as "I think, therfore I am" or in the Latin "Cogito ergo sum"

Answer 2

what difference does it make...perception IS reality and reality is for people who can't handle drugs!!!

Answer 3

One bit of logic makes us ask why we should be the only existent in existence. If nothing exists outside our minds, we would necessarily be the only empirical existent in the universe. Are you really so solipsistic--or egotistical--to believe that?

The concommitant idea of all things empirical being created by our minds is the fallacy of the Primacy of Consciousness, whereby someone believes his consciousness is capable of creating something from nothing.

The Primacy of Existence states that empirical existence exists without need of any consciousness to make it real. Existence exists: A is A; if you die, existence continues.

But to believe that nothing exists outside your mind means you are the only existent in existence, and there is no justification to think you are the only thing that exists. Why should you be?

Answer 4

Deduction never provides absolute certainty.

However in my case it has proved quit handy despite the lack absolution.

Answer 5

we don't...i thought of that when i was 4.