[MD] Clouds

[craigerb at comcast.net]

[Micah] 
> there is no "objective" way to show reality is primary, 
> we would need to be present to prove it is primary, which is a 
> contradiction.


[Micah reconstructed]
1) Assume reality is primary.
2) Something is primary only if it can be proven to be primary.
3) :. Reality can be proven to be primary.
4) Whatever needs to be present to prove something is primary, is itself more primary.
5) Some person needs to be present to prove reality is primary.
6) :. Some person's being present is more primary than reality. 
7) If there is something more primary than another thing, the latter cannot be primary.
8) :. Reality cannot be primary.

Valid, but 2), 4) & probably 5) are dubitable. 


"There is an island at 180 degrees West, 30 degrees North"  does not mean "Someone inhabits/perceives/knows of an island at 180 degrees West, 30 degrees North".  It means "If someone is at 180 degrees West, 30 degrees North, she is on an island".
"The Earth existed 10 million years ago" does not mean "Someone existed 10 million years ago on Earth".  It means "If someone existed 10 million years ago, they could have been on Earth".
"The Earth will exist next year" is not a prediction that someone will exist next year, but a prediction that "If someone does exist next year, they could be on Earth".
Craig