Philosophy: Reality
It?s one of the most covered philosophical topics out there. From The Matrix, to Inception (For those who have had the audacity to have missed seeing both these films and have even the slightest interest in this topic, please rectify the situation), to Plato?s Allegory of the Cave. Reality has been hotly debated for millennia now by those who are philosophically driven.
The myriad of questions which fall under the umbrella that is the topic of Reality are some of the most fascinating one can stumble across. So now I pose this suitably fitting topic, to the minds of those who practice Escapism from reality, for your thoughts on two of the most prevalent questions in this matter.
What is it? Does it matter?
My Thoughts:
What is Reality?
To me, reality is merely that which you exist in. If I were to have spent my entire life living a computer simulation under the presumption that this is life, then that is life ? my reality. The idea that there are higher levels of existence only become relevant if I know they are there. If I know they are there, then the question is:
Does it matter?
I live my whole life in a computer simulation. To me, it feels real, tastes real, smells real, looks real and sounds real yet I know this is not real. In this case, the realm in which I exist is still reality to me, despite the knowledge that which I base my life is all false and it follows that whether or not this is real does not matter.
Further Reading:
The Allegory of the Cave: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave
The Brain in the Vat: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_in_a_vat
Epistemology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistemology
Descartes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Descartes#Philosophical_work
Yes, this is an extremely watered down and the thoughts I have presented are shallow arguments. The objective of the discussion is to provide an intelligent, yet easy for those with no prior experience in philosophical notion to get into, forum for peoples thoughts on the concept of reality.
It?s one of the most covered philosophical topics out there. From The Matrix, to Inception (For those who have had the audacity to have missed seeing both these films and have even the slightest interest in this topic, please rectify the situation), to Plato?s Allegory of the Cave. Reality has been hotly debated for millennia now by those who are philosophically driven.
The myriad of questions which fall under the umbrella that is the topic of Reality are some of the most fascinating one can stumble across. So now I pose this suitably fitting topic, to the minds of those who practice Escapism from reality, for your thoughts on two of the most prevalent questions in this matter.
What is it? Does it matter?
My Thoughts:
What is Reality?
To me, reality is merely that which you exist in. If I were to have spent my entire life living a computer simulation under the presumption that this is life, then that is life ? my reality. The idea that there are higher levels of existence only become relevant if I know they are there. If I know they are there, then the question is:
Does it matter?
I live my whole life in a computer simulation. To me, it feels real, tastes real, smells real, looks real and sounds real yet I know this is not real. In this case, the realm in which I exist is still reality to me, despite the knowledge that which I base my life is all false and it follows that whether or not this is real does not matter.
Further Reading:
The Allegory of the Cave: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave
The Brain in the Vat: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_in_a_vat
Epistemology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistemology
Descartes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Descartes#Philosophical_work
Yes, this is an extremely watered down and the thoughts I have presented are shallow arguments. The objective of the discussion is to provide an intelligent, yet easy for those with no prior experience in philosophical notion to get into, forum for peoples thoughts on the concept of reality.
