SCIENCE
Is Reality Real? Neuroscience Vs. Philosophy
Can Science Prove That Reality Is Real?
“Not a Medium member? Read this story for free here.”
“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?” — John Lennon
What is reality? Is it a simulation created by our brain? Is it just a dream? Or is it something else entirely? Are we living in a simulation?
Maybe we live in an infinite number of simulations, meaning there is no single reality. We could be living in an endless number of simulations or just one, and there would be no way for us to know which one we are actually in.
We’ll have to rely on philosophy and neuroscience to explore these questions.
Neuroscience tells us that our brain creates our reality. It takes in input from our senses and creates a model of the world we experience. This model is what we call reality.
Philosophy tells us that reality is something that exists independent of our minds. It exists outside our brains and can be known through reason and observation.
Is reality something that is created by our brain, or is it something that exists independent of our mind?
The Simulation Argument
Philosophy has a long history of asking big questions about reality. It is no surprise that we are still looking for answers.
The quest to understand reality can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who were very interested in this topic. The word philosophy comes from the Greek word “Philosophia,” which means “love of wisdom.”
Plato and Aristotle were two of the most famous philosophers from ancient Greece. Plato believed that reality was made up of abstract ideas. In contrast, Aristotle believed that reality was made up of material things.
The Simulation Argument is a philosophical argument that suggests that reality as we know it is a simulation. Let’s break it down:
- We may be living in a simulation.
- If we may be living in a simulation, then it’s probable that we are living in a simulation.
- So, it’s probable that we are living in a simulation.
The first step of the argument is to show that reality may be a simulation. To do this, we need to show that it’s possible to create simulations that are indistinguishable from reality.
Recent technological advancements have led us to believe this is possible. We can already create incredibly realistic simulations, and as technology advances, these simulations will become even more real.
The second step of the argument is to show that if we may be living in a simulation, then it’s probable that we are living in it. To do this, we need to look at the motives of those who would create simulations.
If there are intelligent beings who have the technology to create simulations, then it’s likely that they would develop simulations.
Why? Because they could.
There wouldn’t be any reason not to. And, if they created many simulations, the probability that we live in a simulation increases exponentially.
The third and final step of the argument is to conclude that it’s probable that we are living in a simulation.
If the Simulation Argument is correct, then some implications follow from it.
First, if we are living in a simulation, then that means there is someone who created the simulation. And, if someone made the simulation, they must be more intelligent than us. This is because they could create a simulation that is indistinguishable from reality.
Second, if we are living in a simulation, then our reality is not really “real.” It’s a computer-generated program. This has implications for how we view ourselves and our world.
Third, if we are living in a simulation, then it’s possible that we could be shut off at any time. The beings who created the simulation could decide to end it at any point. This has implications for our sense of security and stability.
Fourth, other simulations could run alongside ours if we live in a simulation. We could be one of many simulations that exist. And if this is the case, we may never know that other simulations exist. This has implications for how we view reality and our place in it.
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” — Albert Einstein
The Neuroscience of Reality
In recent years, neuroscience has made great strides in our quest to understand reality. Neuroscientists are using brain imaging technologies to study the brain and create incredible discoveries.
One of the essential things that neuroscience has discovered is that the brain is plastic. This means that the brain can change and adapt in response to experience.
This discovery has a lot of implications for our understanding of reality. It means that reality is not static but is constantly changing and adapting. This discovery has also led to neurophilosophy’s new branch of philosophy.
Neurophilosophy studies how the brain affects our thoughts and perceptions of reality. It attempts to answer the big questions about reality from a neuroscientific perspective.
Two main theories in neuroscience suggest that reality is a simulation. The first theory is called the “Global Workspace Theory,” and the second theory is called the “Theory of Embodied Cognition.”
The Global Workspace Theory suggests that our consciousness is like a computer program running on a computer. The computer is our brain, and the program is our consciousness. This theory suggests that our consciousness is a simulation created by our brains.
The Theory of Embodied Cognition suggests that our consciousness is not a simulation. Still, instead, it is embodied in our physical body. This theory suggests that our brain creates our consciousness. Our consciousness is not a program running on a computer.
So, which of these two theories is correct? We don’t know for sure. But, recent advancements in neuroscience suggest that both of these theories could be correct. Our consciousness may be a simulation created by our brain and embodied in our physical body.
The argument that reality is a simulation is a strong one. Several lines of evidence suggest that reality could be a simulation. But we don’t know for sure if this is the case. Only time will tell.
The Search for Reality & Truth
The definition of reality has changed throughout history. In the past, people believed that reality was something that could be known through reason and observation. But in recent years, the definition of reality has been changing.
With the advent of neuroscience, we now know that our brain creates reality. It takes in input from our senses and creates a model of the world we experience. But even with this new understanding, we still don’t know much about reality. And as our world changes, the definition of reality changes with it.
David Eagleman is a neuroscientist who studies the brain and consciousness. He’s also interested in the question of what reality is. In his book, “Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain,” Eagleman explores how our brain creates reality.
Eagleman argues that there is no single reality. Instead, he says that each individual creates reality. He writes:
“Each person constructs such a map of reality… What we take to be objective reality is really just a consensus hallucination… The reality outside our skulls is an illusion created by our brains.”
Eagleman believes that reality is created by our brains and isn’t something outside our minds. But not everyone agrees with Eagleman. Some people believe that reality does exist outside our brains.
René Descartes was a philosopher who argued that reality is something that exists independent of our minds. He said that reality is something that we can know through reason and observation.
The Mind-Body Problem: Dualism vs. Materialism
The mind-body problem is a philosophical question about the relationship between the human body and the human mind. It’s also called the “mind-body dichotomy.”
This is a complex problem because two different theories try to explain it.
The first theory is dualism, which says that there are two separate entities — one being the physical body and another being the mental or spiritual mind.
The second theory is materialism, which states that everything in existence can be explained by physical means.
Philosophers have debated the mind-body problem for centuries, and there is still no consensus on which theory is correct.
David Chalmers is a philosopher who specializes in the study of consciousness. He argues that the mind-body problem is the most critical in philosophy. Chalmers says that materialism cannot explain consciousness. He argues that consciousness is something that exists outside the physical world.
Chalmers’ view is that reality consists of both physical and non-physical entities. Non-physical entities include things like consciousness and thoughts.
However, not everyone agrees with Chalmers. Some people believe that materialism can explain consciousness.
Daniel Dennett is a philosopher who specializes in the study of cognition. He argues that consciousness can be explained by materialism. Dennett’s view is that reality consists of only physical entities. He argues that consciousness is something that exists within the physical world.
The mind-body problem is complex, and there is still no consensus on which theory is correct. Dualism and materialism have their strengths and weaknesses, and we must decide which approach we believe is right.
What is Truth?
The definition of truth has also been changing throughout history. In the past, people believed that truth was something that could be known through reason and observation. But in recent years, there has been a shift towards the idea that truth is relative.
Relativism is the belief that truth is relative to the individual. This means that what is valid for one person may not be for another.
There are different types of relativism, but one of the most popular forms is moral relativism.
Moral relativism is the belief that there is no objective morality and that morality is relative to each individual.
The philosophy of nihilism also holds that truth is relative.
Nihilism is the belief that life has no inherent meaning or purpose. Nihilists believe that life is ultimately meaningless and that any attempt to find meaning in life is futile.
Existentialism is another philosophical movement that holds that truth is relative. Existentialists believe that each individual creates meaning in life.
These philosophical movements all believe that truth is relative to the individual. What is valid for one person may not be accurate for another.
“It’s funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality.” — Rick Riordan
What is Transperspectivism?
Transperspectivalism is the belief that there’s no single perspective on reality, which means that each individual has their view and nobody’s suitable to be considered more right or more proper.
Transperspectivism is a relatively new philosophical movement in the early stages of development. However, it has already significantly impacted our understanding of reality.
Transperspectivism has a lot of implications for how we live our lives. It means that we should respect the perspectives of others, even if we disagree with them. It also means we should be open to changing our views when presented with new information.
The quest to understand reality is an ongoing journey, and it is one that we will all continue to be on for the rest of our lives.
There is no single answer to the big questions about reality, but philosophy and neuroscience are two of the most essential tools in our quest to understand it. Reality is a complex and ever-changing concept, and there is still much to learn.
So, What do you think? Do you have a perspective you would like to share? Please do so in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you!
Please share it with your friends and family if you enjoyed reading it.
You may also sign up to receive updates when I publish new material!
If you’re new to Medium and want to show your support, consider becoming a member through my page to gain unrestricted access to my current articles and thousands of other authors!
Your membership fee directly contributes to my work since I receive a share of your monthly payment at no additional expense to you.
YouTube | Twitter | Instagram| Support me/Follow me on other platforms
© Alejandro Betancourt, 2022. All Rights Reserved.
