Editing Dream (section)

=== Illusion of reality ===
{{Main|Dream argument}}

Some philosophers have proposed that what we think of as the "real world" could be or is an illusion (an idea known as the [[skeptical hypothesis]] about [[ontology]]). The first recorded mention of the idea was in the 4th century BCE by [[Zhuang Zhou|Zhuangzi]], and in Eastern philosophy, the problem has been named the "[[Zhuangzi (book)#"The Butterfly Dream"|Zhuangzi Paradox]]."
<blockquote>He who dreams of drinking wine may weep when morning comes; he who dreams of weeping may in the morning go off to hunt. While he is dreaming he does not know it is a dream, and in his dream he may even try to interpret a dream. Only after he wakes does he know it was a dream. And someday there will be a great awakening when we know that this is all a great dream. Yet the stupid believe they are awake, busily and brightly assuming they understand things, calling this man ruler, that one herdsman—how dense! Confucius and you are both dreaming! And when I say you are dreaming, I am dreaming, too. Words like these will be labeled the Supreme Swindle. Yet, after ten thousand generations, a great sage may appear who will know their meaning, and it will still be as though he appeared with astonishing speed.<ref>莊子, 齊物論, 12. ''Zhuàngzi'', "Discussion on making all things equal," 12. ''from'' Zhuàngzi, Burton Watson trans., ''Chuang Tzu'' (New York: Columbia University Press, 1996), 43. {{ISBN|978-0-231-10595-8}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=f1BvUUUVRLEC&pg=PA43]</ref></blockquote>

The idea also is discussed in Hindu and Buddhist writings.<ref>{{cite book |title=Buddhism As Presented by the Brahmanical Systems |last=Kher |first=Chitrarekha V. |year=1992 |publisher=Sri Satguru Publications |isbn=978-81-7030-293-3}}</ref> It was formally introduced to Western philosophy by [[Descartes]] in the 17th century in his ''[[Meditations on First Philosophy]]''.