Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Does the universe exist if noone observes it?

CSflim · 03-26-2004, 02:34 PM

Let me say this much: Quantum Mechanics is irrelevant.

Hopefully, this thread can get on without further mention of it, as it serves only to cloud things.

I have a question for those who don't believe in reality. Why do you require nobody to observe something for it not to exist? Since you are being so anthropocentric anyway, why not go the whole hog and declare that nothing exists unless you personally observe it. After all, since the existence of the entire universe depends exclusively on a couple of insignificant creatures crawling around an insignificant rock, is it really such a leap, as to come out with a 100% egocentric world view, and declare that when you shut your eyes, nobody else exists? Sure, they may claim that they still exist when you are not looking at them, but a rock, an ocean, a taperecorder, whatever, all show signs that they still exist when you aren't looking.

Both arguments seem equally "reasonable" to me.

So with this in mind, taking a realist stance on things, parallell universes (if they exist) exist, regardless of whether we can observe them or not.

03-26-2004, 02:34 PM	#18 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	Let me say this much: Quantum Mechanics is irrelevant. Hopefully, this thread can get on without further mention of it, as it serves only to cloud things. I have a question for those who don't believe in reality. Why do you require nobody to observe something for it not to exist? Since you are being so anthropocentric anyway, why not go the whole hog and declare that nothing exists unless you personally observe it. After all, since the existence of the entire universe depends exclusively on a couple of insignificant creatures crawling around an insignificant rock, is it really such a leap, as to come out with a 100% egocentric world view, and declare that when you shut your eyes, nobody else exists? Sure, they may claim that they still exist when you are not looking at them, but a rock, an ocean, a taperecorder, whatever, all show signs that they still exist when you aren't looking. Both arguments seem equally "reasonable" to me. So with this in mind, taking a realist stance on things, parallell universes (if they exist) exist, regardless of whether we can observe them or not. __________________ Last edited by CSflim; 03-26-2004 at 02:39 PM..