Skepticism about the external world

Skepticism about the external world is the philosophical doubt that we can truly know whether the world outside our minds exists or if our perceptions are reliable. It questions whether our senses provide an accurate picture of reality, or if we might be deceived—like in dreams, illusions, or by a powerful observer. While most accept the external world exists, skepticism encourages examining the certainty of our knowledge, highlighting that our experience may not fully or accurately reflect what is truly out there beyond our perception.