According to some, a fundemental
question.
Pragmatism and
positivism would answer thusly: "it depends on how you define '
real.'" It really makes the question rather unimpressive.
For those who like word games, however, it's deeper than that triviality. Does the
universe exist as
matter, which I am able to perceive? Or is it rather my
perceptions that are simply creations of my thought? Or are they really
God's thoughts, that exist outside of the material realm?