Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Michael Huemer returns to the channel to discuss arguments for and against skepticism, the thesis that we cannot know much of anything, including whether or not we are dreaming right now. Other topics discussed: direct realism about perception and the arguments from illusion and hallucination, phenomenal conservatism, and the costs and benefits of self-publishing.
This interview is also available as a podcast: open.substack.com/pub/mileskdonahue/p/74-what-if-youre-still-dreaming-michael?r=1pf1v9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Check out my Substack where you can get a paid membership because you're awesome: mileskdonahue.substack.com
To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via Buy Me a Coffee (buymeacoffee.com/mileskdonahue).
Follow me on X: twitter.com/PhilosopherMKD
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:44 What got Michael into self-publishing?
00:08:35 How do I know I'm not dreaming right now?
00:21:46 The argument for external world skepticism
00:26:57 A critique of phenomenal conservatism
00:32:29 Is a "real external world" the best explanation of our evidence?
00:46:00 Direct versus indirect perceptual realism
00:51:08 The argument from illusion
00:56:11 The argument from hallucination
01:03:05 Can we know we're not in a simulation?
01:12:01 The problem of other minds
Michael Huemer returns to the channel to discuss arguments for and against skepticism, the thesis that we cannot know much of anything, including whether or not we are dreaming right now. Other topics discussed: direct realism about perception and the arguments from illusion and hallucination, phenomenal conservatism, and the costs and benefits of self-publishing.
This interview is also available as a podcast: open.substack.com/pub/mileskdonahue/p/74-what-if-youre-still-dreaming-michael?r=1pf1v9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Check out my Substack where you can get a paid membership because you're awesome: mileskdonahue.substack.com
To support the channel, do please oh please consider donating via Buy Me a Coffee (buymeacoffee.com/mileskdonahue).
Follow me on X: twitter.com/PhilosopherMKD
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:44 What got Michael into self-publishing?
00:08:35 How do I know I'm not dreaming right now?
00:21:46 The argument for external world skepticism
00:26:57 A critique of phenomenal conservatism
00:32:29 Is a "real external world" the best explanation of our evidence?
00:46:00 Direct versus indirect perceptual realism
00:51:08 The argument from illusion
00:56:11 The argument from hallucination
01:03:05 Can we know we're not in a simulation?
01:12:01 The problem of other minds
