No Judgement

A “Brain in a Vat” is a difficult concept for people to grasp and support sometimes, mainly because it is the ultimate argument for Skepticism, but it is a strong argument that ultimately causes a person to question their perception of reality and or the universe.  However some clarification for what we think we know.

Suppose that my brain is in fact in a vat.  What my brain was experiencing would still create a framework for how I could understand the computer that in fact was creating my experiences.  Although I knew I was feeling all of my sensations and experiences but that instead of feeling them in my body and mind, I would acknowledge that I was feeling them in my mind alone.  I also, as all science supports, do not ever experience someone else’s consciousness, or brain in rigid terms, in my concept of this universe.

This is where the clarification comes in.  The Brain in a Vat is an ideal representation for skepticism however it is a better use of support for the refined Individualistic Skepticism. 

We do not and cannot experience the brain or consciousness of other beings we interact with and who exist in our universe (within the computer).  Therefore, one cannot attempt to convince a person’s mind, which exists in our universe that they do not know if they are a brain in a vat, and in fact do not know anything. This is because we cannot know if their brain in fact exists, or only exists in our understanding, because they may not exist.  And if it doesn’t exist can it have knowledge… no.  We ONLY perceive them with or without it. 

These pose questions. If another’s brain does exist, is it connected to the same computer, we cannot know.  If it exists, does it have its own understanding of the universe, its own computer, unconnected from our own? If so we could never transmit the knowledge to it.  If the brain does not exist, then is the knowledge (in loose terms) it gains in fact just add to the knowledge or lack of you have about your universe, your computer… is it your knowledge.  So imposing your views on another would just be reinforcing your own understanding.  Which leaves us; as possibly different existing minds, computers, brains in a vats to only use the knowledge and or expressed experiences of others to build on our own understanding.  Meaning a brain does not have reason or proper capability to judge, transform, or impose our believed knowledge onto others. 

So why try? Well by arguing different understandings of the world, or different believed perceptions we add to our own, no matter if we exist; our brain exists, or others brains exist… we are obtaining understanding, building a larger concept of the universe, which leads to what can be valued as knowledge.