Escaping Baudrillard’s Simulacra
How the philosophy of quietism can help us escape the fabricated version of reality
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As a society, we seem to have lost touch with reality.
This isn’t a new phenomenon.
Back in the 1980s, French philosopher Jean Baudrillard theorised that we live in a world increasingly constructed by mass media and culture. Back then, it was print and TV media shaping our reality. He coined the term ‘simulacra’ to describe the false reality.
And he wasn’t the first to think along these lines.
Simulacra throughout the ages
Way back in Ancient Greece, Plato recognised the illusion of reality and wrote about it in his cave allegory.
Plato told a story in which most people don’t see reality. They only see a projection of shadows in a cave wall. Very few venture outside the cave, and when they return, it’s difficult to convince others of the true nature of reality.
In more modern popular culture, The Matrix movie made a similar point — that the reality most of us experience is an elaborate illusion, a simulation generated by machines.
While The Matrix is fiction, Plato and Baudrillard argue that we actually live in a real-world version of the simulation without knowing it.
Since The Matrix was filmed, things have worsened. Over the past 20 or so years, our disconnection from reality has accelerated, mostly thanks to the internet.
Cyber-simulacra
There’s no denying that the internet has brought us many wonderful things — opportunities to connect, share ideas, and access information from around the world.
However, it has also torn the fabric of society in concerning ways.
A growing number of people live their lives almost entirely through internet-connected screens. Cyberspace seems to be replacing the real world.
Our online profiles become alternate versions of ourselves — carefully curated highlights that distort reality and increase our anxiety.
The algorithms of big tech companies are designed to maximise engagement and keep our attention, which means promoting outrageous, polarising content.
As society interacts through these online lenses, we seem to be collectively losing touch with what is real and meaningful. Political polarisation increases as we get caught in echo chambers and lose the art of nuance.
It doesn’t take a philosophical genius to work out that all this may be problematic.
How the simulacra is created
The Roman Catholic church is a good example of twisting reality through clever propaganda and untruths. For centuries, the church held enormous power to shape ideas and control information that reached the public.
The clergy preached doctrine as absolute truth from the pulpit, suppressing challenges to its ‘absolute truth’ and infallibility. Texts that contradicted church teachings were banned or burned. Scientists who put forward theories like heliocentrism were persecuted if they conflicted with church views.
The church deliberately cultivated an alternate version of reality and history to serve its political and ideological ends. This shaped the lived experience of many generations who knew no different.
These days, the church is relatively powerless. Now other institutions like the state, tech giants, and media corporations pose a greater threat.
Politicians have devised clever ways to control the simulacra, as shown in the 2016 BBC documentary HyperNormalisation.
The documentary examines how politicians use media tools to manipulate, disorientate, and demoralise the public.
For example, tyrants like Putin deploy propaganda to wear down the populace and make the unreal seem normal, allowing them to take greater control. ‘Would-be-tyrants’ like Trump and his propaganda team were also highly adept at this.
Thus is the power of fake news and disinformation. It creates a false reality that is difficult to question, as nobody really knows the truth.
In a world where there appears to be no observable truth, how can anyone be held accountable?
Becoming the observer — seeing beyond the illusion
All too often, we get so caught up in the spectacle of media, culture, politics, and technology that we become passive audience members rather than active, aware beings.
We allow ourselves to be drawn into false worlds and manipulated without even realising it.
The consumer society relies on this passivity for its very existence.
What we need to do is step back and start to see it for what it is — a simulation, not the fullness of reality.
Examine the narratives you’re being fed, and what motives they might serve for those generating them.
Ask yourself: what do the puppet masters of this simulation not want me to see or think about? What layers of reality are being obscured from view?
This kind of critical thinking takes clarity of mind and some kind of separation from the illusion. Quieting the mind is a priority if we want to experience the fullness of life rather than just the illusion.
Quietism — moving beyond the shadows
Quietism is a philosophical or spiritual approach that encourages withdrawal from the external world to focus on your inner self and intuition.
But wait a minute — isn’t that a passive approach and isn’t passivity part of the problem?
Hold that thought and let’s look at it differently.
Quietism isn’t about switching off from consciousness. It’s about intentionally disengaging from external stimuli, media narratives, and the polarised online world in favour of finding the stillness within.
When we find that stillness, something miraculous happens. Our minds clear and our hearts open. We feel the presence of a higher consciousness and begin to see past the illusory reality that we have been presented with.
We also begin to see our ego for what it really is — layers of conditioning. Beneath the simulacra and false layers of our ego (both collective and individual) lies the truth. A stillness that is at the core of our worldly existence. A stillness that has existed throughout time.
Why Is Quietism Important Now?
Quietism serves as a mental detox, a way to clear out the clutter and make room for things that are more meaningful.
In an age of information overload and constant distractions, the call to inner stillness has never been more urgent. It gives us an opportunity to reset our perception and gain a more authentic perspective on the world.
Here are some tips on how to practise quietism in your everyday life:
- Mindfulness Meditation — Take a few minutes daily to simply observe your thoughts and feelings. Breathwork can help — I really like using the Wim Hof breathing method, and then meditating straight after.
- Digital Detox — Step away from screens for designated periods. Disconnecting physically can help you disconnect mentally.
- Reflection — Actively question the narratives you’re fed daily. Take a step back and ask, “Is this real, or is it a shadow on the wall?”. Since I started journaling daily, my connection with reality and higher consciousness has grown immensely.
- Limiting Consumption — Be selective about what you consume, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally. Does it serve your well-being or distract you from it? This is very difficult to do in our consumerist society, but it’s essential if we want to live in reality rather than the simulacra.
Seeing the big picture beyond the cave
As we disengage, even momentarily, from the constructed simulacra that surrounds us, we open ourselves to a greater reality. It’s like stepping out of Plato’s cave into the sunlight.
You’ll find that life outside the illusion is infinitely richer, more nuanced, and imbued with a sense of purpose that the constant noise of modern life drowns out.
The next time you find yourself lost in the vast echo chambers of the internet or caught in a whirlpool of polarising opinions, remember the philosophy of quietism. It just might be your ticket out of the simulacra.
Quietism will help you to become not just an observer, but an active participant in your life. You’ll reclaim your power to see beyond illusions and engage with a reality that is far more enriching and complex than any simulation could ever be.
It’s much better to live a complete life than a complete lie.
Now tell me, are you ready to step out of the simulacra?
