I think you're confusing ontology with epistemology.What's reality; a rock in your head or the belief in your head that informs you of a rock?
Does the rock know anything about reality?The rock itself is reality.
How do you know that's true, when in reality everything you know you only know in your head?The rock in your head is your model of reality, which may or may not be true and accurate.
Is there any being without knowledge and is there any knowledge without being?I think you're confusing ontology with epistemology.
Or how do you know reality-?Don't you mean: "How do you know what reality is?" - ?
Why not? Why does being necessitate that some person know of being's existence?Is there any being without knowledge and is there any knowledge without being?
Haha that's a very complex question to ask on an internet forum!Or how do you know reality-?
Beings know of their own existence, that's what makes them conscious beings.Why not? Why does being necessitate that some person know of being's existence?
That's not complex at all, knowledge of the truth and reality just requires a believing mind.Haha that's a very complex question to ask on an internet forum!
The rock itself is reality.
The rock in your head is your model of reality, which may or may not be true and accurate.
Because it is the only plausible explanation for the continuity of our experiences. Why is the rock still there after I close then reopen my eyes? Did it cease to exist because my perception of it ceased? No. The better explanation is that the real rock is distinct from my interrupted perceptions, continues to exist when my eyes are closed, and causes the same perceptions again once my eyes are reopened.How do you know “the rock itself is reality”, when in reality the rock is only knowable in and by your believing mind and not in or by “the rock”?
No, it is just a rock.Does the rock know anything about reality?
Ultimately I do not; I might be dreaming all this. Hence, I said "may or may not be true and accurate".How do you know that's true, when in reality everything you know you only know in your head?
How is the rock reality when the rock has no way to know "about reality". Wouldn't the way and place that the truth and reality is made known and experienced be a more logical candidate for reality?No, it is just a rock.
You are confusing reality with knowing about reality. The rock is reality, but does not know about reality.
Ultimately I do not; I might be dreaming all this. Hence, I said "may or may not be true and accurate".
So what is your point? It is the same for you and everyone else.
Because it is the only plausible explanation for the continuity of our experiences.
Why is the rock still there after I close then reopen my eyes?
Did it cease to exist because my perception of it ceased? No. The better explanation is that the real rock is distinct from my interrupted perceptions, continues to exist when my eyes are closed, and causes the same perceptions again once my eyes are reopened.
The rock exists; it is real. It does not matter what the rock knows about it.How is the rock reality when the rock has no way to know "about reality".
No.Wouldn't the way and place that the truth and reality is made known and experienced be a more logical candidate for reality?
That is a possibility. It is also possible for you, of course.You're not “dreaming”, rather you have just been deceived.
You just said I am being deceived about reality. Apparently you think YOU have the right to speak for ME. Interesting how often hypocrisy surfaces with Christians.No it isn't the same for everyone, and you don't have the right to speak for anyone else other than yourself, because you think you are alone in your head, so you are easily deceived, because the only one who is capable of knowing you is YOU enlightened with the truth and reality of God, the real YOU. Believers know what and whom the truth and reality is in us.
Are you claiming that the rock is still there when you close your eyes because it continues to be perceived in the mind of God?Lol. How is it “the only plausible explanation for the continuity of our experiences”, when in reality the rock doesn't even KNOW what “plausible explanation for the continuity of our experiences” is. When in reality it is only believing minds that are capable of “plausible explanation” and “the continuity of our experiences”. You give way to much credit to physical objects when they have absolutely know means to do anything in reality.
Because your mind is able to believe it is still there in reality. Can rocks do that?
No, it's still there because a believing mind is capable of experiencing objects without our physical senses. Understand? Come on man, you are smarter than this.
True. But you began by talking about a rock and then beings in general.Beings know of their own existence, that's what makes them conscious beings.
That doesn't tell me how one knows, though. If it's correct, it just tells me about the equipment you need to know (a believing mind).That's not complex at all, knowledge of the truth and reality just requires a believing mind.
Rocks aren't beings, and beings and rocks are known and experienced differently. Beings are minds and rocks aren't.True. But you began by talking about a rock and then beings in general.
If the only way to know about being is in and with a believing mind, then a being must be the product of a believing mind, in order to be a known being.And again, this is confusing knowing about being and the ontology of being.
That doesn't tell me how one knows, though. If it's correct, it just tells me about the equipment you need to know (a believing mind).
I'd say a rock is a being; if by being you mean "something that exists" or a material or immaterial substance.Rocks aren't beings, and beings and rocks are known and experienced differently. Beings are minds and rocks aren't.
No, that doesn't follow. You're talking about how a being is known, not its ontology. Even if we did not know of any being existing, let's say, it doesn't follow that no being exists.If the only way to know about being is in and with a believing mind, then a being must be the product of a believing mind, in order to be a known being.
I don't think that follows either. Belief in what is necessary in order to make the truth and reality known to us?And that's a good start. So, we know that atheism isn't something that can lead one to the truth, because an unbelief of any kind including atheism is useless in making the truth and reality known, since belief is necessary in order to make the truth and reality known to us.
I'd say a rock is a being; if by being you mean "something that exists" or a material or immaterial substance.
No, that doesn't follow. You're talking about how a being is known, not its ontology. Even if we did not know of any being existing, let's say, it doesn't follow that no being exists.
I don't think that follows either. Belief in what is necessary in order to make the truth and reality known to us?
Okay. I'm glad we can define terms.A being in the context I using it is someone that is aware of their own existence and possesses the capacity of consciousness.
It still doesn't follow though. For instance, very young babies have conscious minds (as do those in the womb) but have little awareness of their own existence.Strawman, you are arguing from the standpoint and context of what you think beings are and not from the context of what I believe beings are. If beings possess conscious minds and are persons and beings exist, then being is its ontology. But we do know of beings existing and we can't not know of their existence, because we are beings. So beings are aware of their own existence.
Okay. I'm glad we can define terms. It still doesn't follow though. For instance, very young babies have conscious minds (as do those in the womb) but have little awareness of their own existence.
If you're saying, for a conscious being to know of the existence of another being implies they are conscious of their own existence (it's a self-evident truth), that seems to make sense, but I still think you're confusing epistemology with ontology. I mean, let's say I closed my eyes and was not aware of any conscious beings around me (I couldn't see them) - would they cease to exist?
Or, would you say, because they are aware of their own existence, they exist at least for themselves? If that's the case, how do you escape solipsism?