This topic has been something that has been on my mind a lot recently.
I always used to class myself as someone who was “realistic” but after contemplating this further I realised that the term “realistic” means something very different entirely.
What is reality but a concept unique to all of us? Can anything be classed as real since our perceptions will differ greatly on many things? Just because we see something a particular way does not make it so. We can be so insistent sometimes that our way of seeing something is more right than someone else’s way.
Keep an open mind at all times and remember that a point of view is always valuable to each individual.
March 23rd, 2006 at 3:06 am
Is this reality? Two people thinking about the same thing at the same time. Cool! I heard this quote somewhere and felt the urge to share it on my blog, and here you are talking about the same thing.
I think Reality and Fact must be distinguished. Often facts can be proven, by the merely pointing out that they exist and/or by investigation.
But Reality is a judgement upon those facts, or in other words, the acceptance that these facts together mean something. But since each one of us can have a different judgement we come up with our own ‘version’ of such Reality.
The amazing thing is most us are indeed open to others’ interpretation of facts and hence allow each other to refine the collective understanding of Reality.
Isn’t that unreal?
March 23rd, 2006 at 3:11 am
You know what they say, “great minds…” *wink*
I couldn’t agree more!
March 24th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
Interesting post. Sort of an age-old question, that of reality versus perception. In the end, what really matters is exactly the conclusion you draw. We all approach the world with our own set of perceptions shaped by who we are and who we have been. Being tolerant and open minded to how perceptions of others differ from our own can widen our own experiences and perceptions and provide limitless possibilities for growth and discovery. Thank you for the thought-provoking post.
March 25th, 2006 at 1:12 am
Hi Seawave, thank you for dropping by! You’re right, it is an age old question! But I’m young and I still have so much to learn and so it’s all new to me!
February 17th, 2007 at 6:48 am
hi.
i found myself thinking about this question of reality. and i just keep thinking..why doesn’t anyone get it? i truly think that if everyone can point to the clouds and call that color “white.” the reality is that clouds are “white.” so basically im trying to say: if everyones perception are the same..that is reality.
May 13th, 2007 at 9:02 am
I love this subject. I liked the comment about collective reality (by the little endian). But to add to this we cannot collect the perception of animals, spirits (if you belive in the spirit living after death), babies too young to speak… maybe they see Reality without the barrier of perception?
May 13th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Hi Morvana,
It’s interesting that you call perception a barrier, I like to think of it more as a gateway. I think that perception can be finely tuned to see more than we ever thought we could. Perception is what gives us our uniqueness too.
Amit
May 14th, 2007 at 1:50 am
Hi, agreed a gateway is a much better word as perception can be helpful OR destructive depending on the person. I have alot of childhood memories of perceiving the world and people as undisputedly trustworthy, genuine and loving. Does everyone start life with this view or does it depend on their personality or is this just innocence?
May 14th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Yeah I think it’s more then innocence factor. Everyone in their childhood is pure and unadulterated by the mishmash of perceptions that is poured onto us, from all directions and all angles, when we turn into adults.
Have you ever caught yourself in the act of “playing” just like you used when you were a child? I remember I caught myself recently with to random objects and I managed to join them together to make then look like a air plane and I started to play with it using my imagination just as if I was a child. It’s that kind of perception and imagination that we have potential for, but we tend to loose as we get older, but it doesn’t have to be the case!
October 15th, 2007 at 2:10 am
I am actually doing an essay on a topic just like this - Reality Vs Perception.
My argument is that we rely on our senses to “show” us what is “going on.”
But what is the world like to a blind/deaf person.. Do they live in an alternate reality as they do not see the world as I or someone else does?
I am also currently writing a paper on the “blue wall”
Eg that wall is BLUE to me but to someone in a different country it is a different word - does that make it a different colour.. What of a colour blind person etc..
Anywhos, enough of my prattle. It was nice to see someone questioning the same stuff as me
Amit, it would be good to get in touch and discuss.. Leave me a line on my (generic) myspace if you would like
October 19th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Hey Kasey!!
What made you choose that title for your essay? Or was it a general one that you and your peers have to all work to?
Perception is definitely a tricky subect. It’s like memories too, most people cannot accurately reconstruct a memory they have, the event becomes skewed with their own idiosynchratic thoughts and tendencies so in effect the memory is neither fact nor truth, only ones most accurate ability to reconstruct a memory.
As with the example that you gave of the colour blue, you and I may differ on our perpection of the meaning of the word: “peace”….who’s definition is correct? Reality is only defined by ones own perception!
I’ll definitely pop over to your myspace and add you as a friend!
November 20th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I hate Science. I am doing this topic. And my teacher is crap.
January 10th, 2008 at 1:48 am
hi! i’m actually writing an oration on this topic for speech and debate, and i loved the quote by the little endian near the top… do you who said it? it would be very useful in my speech… thanks!
January 10th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Hi Annier,
I don’t unfortunately know who the quote was by and I’ve lost touch with the little endian. I’m sure if you google it or have a hunt around then you will find something…I can also offer a quote for you that might come in handy and is one of my favorites on this topic by Proust - The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
I have have some personal quotes of my own that I can share with you for your debate!
Good luck and best wishes!
April 13th, 2008 at 1:21 am
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April 18th, 2008 at 3:19 am
hi, i kind of have always thought of it as perception is what we sense as being existant (or at least what our minds accept as existing), wereas reality is the truth, which we as humans cannot possibly comprehend.