Abstract

This paper defends Common Sense Realism against contemporary epistemological skepticism about reality and truth. We argue that reality exists independently of perception and that human cognition provides genuine access to this reality despite inherent limitations. Our defense proceeds through two primary arguments: the Action Argument demonstrating the logical necessity of reality for intentional choice, and the Imagination Argument revealing consciousness's dependence on prior reality. We develop an information theory grounded in objective patterns and introduce the Fragment Theory of Knowledge to explain how partial, perspective-bound experiences access fragments of unified reality. We address challenges from quantum mechanics and evolutionary theory, providing a unified response that integrates scientific understanding with realist commitments, ultimately demonstrating the practical significance of realism across multiple domains of human experience and inquiry. Keywords: Common Sense Realism, epistemology, ontology, Action Argument, Fragment Theory of Knowledge, quantum mechanics, evolutionary theory.