Question

Philosophy question: How do you know that you’re not dreaming?

Answer 1

Answer: By remembering how you got there.

Explanation: By running through your mind how you got here, for example how you woke up, what you ate, and what mode of transport got you to that location, you know you aren't dreaming, you can never remember the beginning of a dream, only the middle, and end. You will usually not reflect on yourself in a dream, only live in the action of the dream. Also, look at a mirror, the reflection won't be real.

From my own personal experience, dreams rarely have objects that tell the time in them, that's not to say that they don't completely, just most of the time.

This is just a theory.

Answer 2

It can be difficult to determine whether you are dreaming or not. According to philosopher René Descartes, the only way to truly know that you are not dreaming is to use reason and logic to prove that you are not.

Descartes argued that even if you are dreaming, your thoughts and experiences are still real in a sense, because they are being experienced by you. However, he believed that there are certain things that are always true, regardless of whether you are dreaming or not. These things include the laws of mathematics, the existence of the physical world, and the fact that you are thinking and experiencing something.

Therefore, by using reason and logic to examine these fundamental truths, you can determine whether you are dreaming or not. For example, if you can perform a mathematical calculation correctly, then you are likely not dreaming, because the laws of mathematics are always true. However, if you are unable to perform the calculation correctly, then you may be dreaming, because your thoughts and experiences may not be grounded in reality.

Ultimately, the question of whether you are dreaming or not is a philosophical one that has been debated for centuries. While there may not be a definitive answer, examining the fundamental truths of existence can help you determine whether you are dreaming or not.