What Is Reality, and Can We Truly Perceive It?

1. Is Reality What Exists or Merely What Is Perceived?

One of humanity’s oldest and deepest questions still echoes: What is reality? The answer varies based on your perspective. To a scientist, reality is measurable, observable, and repeatable. To a philosopher, it’s a concept to be deconstructed, because all observation depends on the observer. To an artist, reality is a sensation – an inner truth. If reality can be defined in so many different ways, is it possible they’re all correct? Or is none of them truly real?

2. Can We Trust Our Senses?

We perceive the world through five senses – sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell.

But these senses are not perfect.

A mirage tricks our eyes into seeing water where there is none.

A piece of music can manipulate our emotions through nothing but vibrations.

Taste is influenced by light, mood, and expectation.

So our senses aren’t delivering reality – they’re interpreting it.

And interpretations vary from person to person, culture to culture, moment to moment.