I do not believe that I am now dreaming, but I cannot prove that I am not. I am, however, quite certain that I am having certain experiences, whether they be those of a dream or those of waking life.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Russell admits uncertainty about dreaming but is certain of his experiences, whether dream or waking.
- In plain terms
- He can’t prove he isn’t dreaming, yet he’s sure he’s experiencing something.
- What can you take from it?
- Accept uncertainty about reality while trusting immediate experience.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What criteria could reliably differentiate dream from waking experience?
- Does certainty of experience matter if reality is uncertain?
Another view
The claim doesn’t resolve the philosophical problem of distinguishing dream from reality.
More from Bertrand Russell
Whatever we know without inference is mental.
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