What is reality? How do you define what is real?

feywon

feywon

Well-known Member
Location
Rural North Central NM
Not sure how light-hearted this will be, tho it could be interesting in fun. And humor welcome as long as not hostile or put-down type.

Neither a simple or just fun question. Take it as you will, just try to be clear about when you are quoting anyone, considering possible definitions and when you're stating your own opinions.

But several discussions have me wondering how various people on SF define reality. All i'll say for now is that for me reality is multi layered, multidimensional but clearly diverse definitions exist.

I am ever curious about the human mind. Please share your definition, feelings about it.
 

feywon said:
Not sure how light-hearted this will be, tho it could be interesting in fun. And humor welcome as long as not hostile or put-down type.

Neither a simple or just fun question. Take it as you will, just try to be clear about when you are quoting anyone, considering possible definitions and when you're stating your own opinions.

But several discussions have me wondering how various people on SF define reality. All i'll say for now is that for me reality is multi layered, multidimensional but clearly diverse definitions exist.

I am ever curious about the human mind. Please share your definition, feelings about it.
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I have often wondered this myself Feywon..thanks for starting this, I wouldn't have thought to do it myself.. I'll be interested in other people's opinions..
 

What is reality?​

In those bygone days when buses used to have conductors to take your fare. He/she would see you coming about 100 yards away absolutely legging it to catch the bus, then, when you where just 25 yards away, they'd ring the bell and grin as the bus sped off........without you. I hated conductors. šŸ˜Š
 
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For me reality is not definable. Our whole body is designed to survive and evolution has developed the human brain which has as many neurons as the stars in our galaxy. Depending on our genetics and environment we have constructed the reality that is best suited for us to survive or not. We all know that what we thought was real was not, or that our perception of reality has changed a lot throughout our lives. Rather try to define reality I tend to act on my present connection with the unknown, and take my chances. :)
 
feywon said:
Not sure how light-hearted this will be, tho it could be interesting in fun. And humor welcome as long as not hostile or put-down type.

Neither a simple or just fun question. Take it as you will, just try to be clear about when you are quoting anyone, considering possible definitions and when you're stating your own opinions.

But several discussions have me wondering how various people on SF define reality. All i'll say for now is that for me reality is multi layered, multidimensional but clearly diverse definitions exist.

I am ever curious about the human mind. Please share your definition, feelings about it
Click to expand...
 
I used to think that reality is pretty much cut & dried, and that only our perceptions of a finite reality is what differs. Hmmm, as I type this I realize that I still feel that's true.
From a physiological standpoint, what we experience as reality is determined by what's going on in the synaptic cleft, where neurotransmitters influence our sensory inputs. Here is one of many articles that describe the processes taking place in our nervous system: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-neurotransmitter-2795394
 
I sometimes get annoyed when someone says "I know"...I may be talking about an experience I experienced and voiced my feelings...the answer from the listener is I know..how could they? I myself believe in facts and even then,,facts can be misrepresented...unless I witness something or it is proven then it is not reality..this is my take on reality..and I could very well be wrong or naive...
 
Nathan said:
I used to think that reality is pretty much cut & dried, and that only our perceptions of a finite reality is what differs. Hmmm, as I type this I realize that I still feel that's true.
From a physiological standpoint, what we experience as reality is determined by what's going on in the synaptic cleft, where neurotransmitters influence our sensory inputs. Here is one of many articles that describe the processes taking place in our nervous system: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-neurotransmitter-2795394
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It's interesting that you should bring up this angle because while, in the case of the definition of reality (really the perception of it) the discussion tends to boil down to "You really can't prove your own existence to anyone else." -- "Nope, you can't." "Okay, then."
But, the conversation moved on to Altruism from there which one extremely savvy, intelligent poster managed to bring down to the sub-atomic level. It was a fascinating talk.

So, yeah, I get that. lol

Edit: Neglected to mention that I was referencing the philisophical ideal of Solipsism in the first paragraph. My duh.
 
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Snow74 said:
I sometimes get annoyed when someone says "I know"...I may be talking about an experience I experienced and voiced my feelings...the answer from the listener is I know..how could they? I myself believe in facts and even then,,facts can be misrepresented...unless I witness something or it is proven then it is not reality..this is my take on reality..and I could very well be wrong or naive...
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Maybe the implication is the simple, "I know how you feel," or even, "I can understand how you might feel." Seems like more of a language thing. :giggle:
 
Because the term like many others is often used broadly in casual conversation, answers are certain to be all over the place especially as perceived by individuals that is misplaced. Thus some value with a considered definition:

Sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent. Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence. In physical terms, reality is the totality of a system, known and unknown... en.wikipedia.org
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There is much one can absolutely state as "parts" of reality without meaning "all" of reality. For instance that each of us exists, is alive now, are homo sapiens, on our planet Earth, is an absolute fact of reality and much more. What is not full absolute reality is what our mind models in brain perception or what we imagine.
 
When I was ill, I was hallucinating. One of my hallucinations was that death rays were shooting out from the ceiling molding. For me, this was an absolute fact. It was real. Of course, when I got better, there were no more death rays. So, the only way I know of testing reality is the scientific method, the systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses. Even though I truly believed those death rays were real, there's no way others could. My reality was not verifiable. What's reality has to pass the scientific test.
 
timoc said:

What is reality?​

In those bygone days when buses used to have conductors to take your fare. He/she would see you coming about 100 yards away absolutelely legging it to catch the bus, then, when you where just 25 yards away, they'd ring the bell and grin as the bus sped off........without you. I hated conductors. šŸ˜Š
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It's true, they did do that... and I know first hand , not only as a passenger , but my father was a bus conductor before he was a driver..
 
RadishRose said:
To answer the question, in all honesty...I don't.

I'm sure I must have at some time, but it would have been brief. I guess I'm a brick because I don't care about defining reality. Just my 2 cents.
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Totally understand. The main reason i have asked is because people who 'invoke' reality in discussion of various topics often also claim some loyalty to reason, logic etc. But when you engage them in detail and ask for specifics turns out their opinions about 'what is real' are not consistent or very logical.

It's one of those things where the 'devil is in the details'.
 
Probably not cerebral enough but for me if I can see & touch whatever, it's real. If it's about emotion like love then since an emotion varies defining it as real would have to vary to.
 
Knight said:
Probably not cerebral enough but for me if I can see & touch whatever, it's real. If it's about emotion like love then since an emotion varies defining it as real would have to vary to.
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what if for example you felt you could touch it, which made it very real for you?

For example for many years as a young adult..20's/30's.. after a particularly traumatic event in my life, I suffered from what took me years to learn was probably sleep paralysis.. but at the time was a horrendous feeling while I was asleep of someone sitting on my bed, or on my legs.. and I was awake, and in sheer terror of what this thing was.

I couldn't move no matter how I tried, nor could I cry out much as I tried... and the feeling of dread and horror was overwhelming to the point that sometimes I would stay sleeping with the light on, it never seemed to happen then. I started sleeping with my bible and rosary next to my bed.. I feared I was being visited by some kind of poltrgeist, and this was as real to me as this computer is to me right now..
 
timoc said:

What is reality?​

In those bygone days when buses used to have conductors to take your fare. He/she would see you coming about 100 yards away absolutelely legging it to catch the bus, then, when you where just 25 yards away, they'd ring the bell and grin as the bus sped off........without you. I hated conductors. šŸ˜Š
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That is an incredibly mean thing for a conductor to do.
 
Goodness, that's a real hard one.
Reality is such a unique thing, as it relies on each and every one of our internal maps of the universe, which is built up of perception, memories, experiences, emotions, and the ethical rules that make up our legal system in whichever country we are residing in.
Add to that mental illness, born blind or deaf and you have a whole new dimension.
Weighing all of the above together, I would have to conclude that reality is multidimensional and diverse.
 

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