Rich asked:

My problem is this. How can I seriously consider the major skeptical arguments without being
depressed about the possibility of being a brain in a vat, never having any real knowledge of the
world outside my own mind, and not being certain that I can ascribe consciousness to other people?

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Well, if they depress you that much, maybe you should think about something else? It's not as if there
aren't other worthwhile things to think about, after all. It seems to me that your problem may not be
the topic but your general viewpoint, and perhaps you should seek professional help with that. If you
are reallyseriously having problems ascribing consciousness to others, you doneed professional
help; please seek it.

Steven Ravett Brown

The problem described by you suffers from difficult conditions. Realize that your mind is quite able of
imagining that other people are similar to you. So if you do possess consciousness, why not they?

True you're like a brain in a vat, BUT see instead of a weak point see that as a strong point. You're
able to imagine anything you want. Then if you're not a masochist you're not going to imagine things
that make you feel bad, don't you think so? (In fact that is precisely what fatalism is about.)

Henk Tuten