What distinguishes the real from the false?
2007-01-27 09:30:32 · 21 answers · asked by bzshielding 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
A lot of people seem to think of reality as something which is there with certainty and identical for everyone. I believe that this view is completely erroneous.
Consider, for example, your emotional experiences. They are entirely internal to you. I have only your word that they even exist at all. It would be fair to say that as far as I'm concerned, your feelings are almost completely unreal. For you, however, they are almost indisputably real. This suggests that what is or is not real is a very subjective and personal thing.
It also suggests something else rather interesting - if something exists in a person's mind, it has a degree of reality. Sure, it may not be anywhere near as real as the sun or gravity or the like, but it has a measure of existance. What kinds of things then would have no existance? Only those which cannot be named, described, or thought of! In other words EVERYTHING is real, and 'unreal' is just a synonym for 'unknown'.
Which answers the question behind your question. The opposite of real is not false, but unimagined.
2007-01-27 09:36:54 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
That's a tough question. It depends on your definition of reality. Concrete reality consists of everything you take in with your senses: what you see, hear, smell, taste, touch is real. But there are intangible things that are nevertheless real: like love for instance, like God. These things you don't "feel" with your senses, you just "know" in your mind & feel in your heart (your figurative heart, though you do kind of feel love as a warmth in your chest & a pain there when you lose your beloved...at least I do...) Some things can be proven real (the tangible, concrete). Other things can't be proven (the intangible) and you just have to go on faith for those.
As humans we have instincts about what is real & false. Some people are very in tune with their instincts, they use their intuition & can tell when someone is lying to them. Others are a bit lost & have a hard time distinguishing truth from lies, unfortunately these people end up deceived and hurt. We all have a few blind spots. Sometimes we just refuse to see the truth. We believe what we want to believe. Some people live their whole lives as an illusion (a surface life with a spouse & 2.2 kids meanwhile they're miserable & their spouse is cheating but on the surface it looks like the perfect little family in a pretty little house. So what's real? The infidelity & misery or the picture postcard family?...)
Search your soul. You know what is real & what is false. Now act accordingly...
2007-01-27 11:02:16 · answer #2 · answered by amp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything is real. Even that which is perceived is fake is still real in the sense that it exists in contrast to the reality that you and I know. More accurately, if thoughts are real, then everything is real. If thoughts aren't real, then nothing is. Take that as you will. I believe when you piece it together logically you'll find that to be true in your heart. We only translate the world we live in through our mind and senses. We only have our thoughts about what reality really is. We don't experience it firsthand. Even if the world was like "The Matrix" there'd be no real way of knowing. Thus, it wouldn't make a difference either way. Things would go on the way they were, until the end.
2007-01-27 10:20:54 · answer #3 · answered by Answerer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reality is shifty. I notice you capitalized it as if it were the name of a deity. If you discuss an object, its has a meaning. If you are describing a value, it gets fuzzier still.
These conversations are more about defining the question, examining the various truths you wish to arrive at, than actually doing anything with the question. Examine the philosophers of antiquity, their much given to certainty in these grand questions, and were not much troubled by concerns of fact and common reality, just process.
Science gives us a way to examine an object to determine if it is real. Is it tangible, is it discernible, is it measurable? Then it is definable, it is real. The truth of its utility might be a little more far ranging, and open to more subtle colourings. But it is there.
Examine your question and determine what reality and what falshood you are trying to pin down. Then ask more questions.
2007-01-27 10:02:21 · answer #4 · answered by colinchief 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reality is afforded through our interaction with others. The world appears real to us because we share it with other people. My conviction that you and him and her, for example, can experience a table in the room and our experience is similar in some repsects lends reality to the table since you realise its not only the product of your mind. The key word is: Intersubjectivity. So reality is a product of time and society , its a creation, a creation that we are all involved in. Think about it:: Is it possible to encounter an object that no body ever saw or heard of before? You can but you will immediately try to make it more 'Real' by seeing it through the existing categories that we all share.
2007-01-27 10:10:02 · answer #5 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, humans have an imperfect view of the world, literally. When you see the a red rose, isn't it 'really' red? Well, to most people it is, but some people can't see red. Also, nobody can see the UV or infra red rays that might be near the rose. Our 'real' is more or less the majority opinion.
2007-01-27 09:57:35 · answer #6 · answered by patdacat115 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What is real? Whatever you wish.
What disguinshes the real from the false? Your belief in it (if there is doubt in your belief then this doubt will also show up in your reality. It's simple really).
To me magic is real and my universe operates by it. I don't push this on others and they can't push their reality on me. They can scoff all they like but my life works and I am happy and that's all the evidence I need.
2007-01-27 15:57:16 · answer #7 · answered by q 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your own mind. If you see duality in all things, & perceive God as separate from yourself then all you see is illusion. If you see God in all things and experience unity with God in the light of unconditional love, then you are perceiving reality. It is all a play of consciousness. Read " Play of consciousness" by Swami Muktananda Paramahamsa.
2007-01-27 11:42:34 · answer #8 · answered by Weldon 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All things pass, it is the glimpse we catch which leaves the impression of a touch called reality.
2007-01-27 09:35:56 · answer #9 · answered by Conway 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pain and suffering is real, unfortunately. So when you're dreaming, you don't feel any pain so it's not real.
2007-01-27 10:11:30 · answer #10 · answered by Believe me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋