From: nospam@example.net   
      
   On Sat, 1 Feb 2025, Ed Cryer wrote:   
      
   > I should think that anyone at all perusing a philosophy forum will recognise   
   > the maxim in the title. If a tree falls in a Siberian forest and there's no   
   > one around to hear it, does it make a noise?   
   > They'll also recognise the standard reply. Falling trees cause vibrations in   
   > the air, which impact on eardrums and produce the perception of sound in the   
   > mind. No ears, no sound.   
   >   
   > This is, of course, the main entry point into phenomenalism (what George   
   > Berkeley termed "empirical idealism").   
   > I believe that today realism rules the roost. But I'm not sure just why.   
   >   
   > Does anyone know of any knockout arguments in favour of metaphysical realism?   
      
   Metaphysical realism, is the Donald Trump of isms at the moment, as you   
   say. Here are some arguments:   
      
   1. G.E. Moores here's a hand.   
      
   2. The Success of Science: One of the strongest arguments for   
   metaphysical realism is the success of the natural sciences. The ability   
   of scientific theories to accurately describe and predict phenomena in the   
   world suggests that there is an objective reality that exists   
   independently of our perceptions or beliefs. The consistent success of   
   scientific methods in uncovering truths about the universe implies that   
   there are real entities and structures that science is discovering.   
      
   3. The Problem of Underdetermination: Metaphysical realism addresses the   
   issue of underdetermination, which is the idea that empirical data can   
   often be explained by multiple theories. Realists argue that the existence   
   of a mind-independent reality provides a basis for preferring one theory   
   over another. If reality exists independently, then the best explanation   
   for the data is the one that corresponds to that reality, rather than   
   merely being a convenient or useful construct.   
      
   4. Common Sense and Intuition: Many people have a strong intuitive belief   
   in the existence of an external world that is independent of our thoughts   
   and perceptions. This common-sense view aligns with metaphysical realism,   
   as it posits that objects and events exist regardless of whether they are   
   being observed or thought about. This intuitive stance can be seen as a   
   foundational aspect of human experience and understanding.   
      
   5. The Argument from Truth: Metaphysical realism posits that truth is a   
   correspondence between beliefs or statements and the actual state of   
   affairs in the world. If there is no mind-independent reality, then the   
   concept of truth becomes problematic, as it would rely solely on   
   subjective perspectives. Realism maintains that there are objective truths   
   about the world that exist independently of our beliefs, which provides a   
   robust framework for understanding truth.   
      
   6. The Explanatory Power of Realism: Metaphysical realism offers a   
   powerful explanatory framework for understanding various phenomena,   
   including the existence of abstract entities (like numbers or properties)   
   and the nature of causation. By positing a reality that exists   
   independently of our minds, realism can account for the relationships and   
   interactions between different entities in a coherent manner, providing a   
   more comprehensive understanding of the world.   
      
   In terms of reality, and realted to 4, it can be argued that the burden of   
   proof   
   lies on the idealist to come up with an argument disproving reality or proving   
   the idealist alternative. To my knowledge, no such uncontrovertible proof has   
   ever been produced in our 2500 years of philosophy.   
      
   > Ed   
   >   
   > There once was a man who said "God   
   > Must think it exceedingly odd   
   > If he finds that this tree   
   > Continues to be   
   > When there's no one about in the Quad."   
   >   
   >   
   > Dear Sir,   
   >              Your astonishment's odd.   
   > I am always about in the Quad.   
   > And that's why the tree   
   > Will continue to be   
   > Since observed by   
   >                          Yours faithfully,   
   >                                                  God   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)