Existence is a paradox

[LaVieEnRose]

Look around wherever you are and contemplate whatever people or organisms or objects are around you. Interact with them in some way for a bit. It seems pretty common sense that these beings and things exist independently of our minds, that is, a strict solipsistic view isn't correct.

But at the same time we can also say that things exist as a function of our brain's interpretation of the physical signals our sense organs perceive.

As far as I can see the Universe exists both outside of our mind and only as part of it at the same time.

 

[CTB Dream]

This prdx exist same no exist tell how math, universe all contain this no separate, say X exist this time deteriorate X = not X prdx

 

[Forever Sleep]

It's like that saying: "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" It's a very arrogant assertion isn't it that living things- especially humans need to bear witness for things to be real?!!

Still- we can only understand the world through our own perception of it. Like you say- the world clearly continues to exist with or without us but our own version of the world can't.

What I find even stranger is this idea of mental illness. At what stage does my perception of my life become 'wrong' or 'ill' or 'distorted'? Enough to say that I am no longer perceiving the world in a 'normal' or 'healthy' way? I'm surely still getting the same or similar visual, auditory and olfactory cues as everyone else but I am interpreting them differently. Why is my reality any less real or true than someone elses?

Surely- it's preference at the end of the day. Is it compulsory to like things? I suppose it isn't normal to start disliking or not caring about things you used to like. Still- it's not impossible. People's tastes change. Sorry- I'm on one of my regular- is depression an illness? Rants! I know that's going off topic... Sorry!