Quote Originally Posted by WeedTillDeath
To me reality can be studied in a lab. Take for example quantum physics: Quantum scientists will tell you that if you claim to know anything about quantum physics you really know nothing about quantum, however it is still studied in a lab-proving its reality. Gravity and magnetism can be studied in a lab. All things we can't see but know exist. Not to say there aren't things we haven't discovered yet. But I certainly am not going to believe it until its discovered and studied.
Quantum Physicists quote the Heisenberg uncertainty principle when they say that to some degree, you can know the position of an electron, but you cannot know its velocity. Or, you can know its velocity, but not its position. You will always be unsure of it, you can never be certain, because an electron can act like a wave of energy, or a particle with mass. Electrons/Electricity can bounce off objects like insulators (i.e., rubber around a wire), or act like energy waves (i.e., light bulbs).

As for perceptions of reality, such things are subjective, as anyone who has had a vivid dream can tell you. Most people will see reality in terms of their own experience, a subjective viewpoint, or an emotional one. The best way to know how you feel about reality, or to know if something is real, is to look at a situation that DOES NOT AFFECT YOU.

You will be less interested in such an event, i.e., the proverbial tree falling in the forest with no one around to hear it. However, you still retain the option of seeing if the tree fell or not. Now, whether or not it affects you in the purest sense is debatable. You still had to take up your own time to see if the tree fell or not, and what if you had gotten hurt in the forest? It would seem more "real," would it not?

Even when we observe the stars we cannot be certain of a star's position, because light bends when it is near gravity. So, all of our perceptions of reality are subjective.

I cannot think of a single way to objectively or logically prove
that I myself exist.

We can, however, prove existence in various contexts, save for the ultimate context - Identity. That is the real question, does my IDENTITY exist, do I have meaning?

I could prove that I exist in at least one mathematical dimension by using my finger to connect two dots on a paper. That proves I exist one dimensionally. If I stand outside and I have a shadow, that proves that I have at least two dimensions. If I can drink water, and hold volume, that proves I exist in three dimensions. But how satisfying is that? Not much.

I think that when we ask ourselves how we perceive existence, We are also asking, in the philosophical sense, do we exist, do we have a purpose?

If I had to ask If I had a purpose, I would say yes. And that purpose is to improve myself.