The subjectivity of reality

Instead of quantity surveying, I really should have done philosophy but it’s not that marketable. I’ve never seen a philosophy vacancy advertised in the newspaper: “Philosopher wanted. 20 years of experience.” The interview would be hilarious. “I am over 20 years old and that means I have 20+ years experience. Give me the job!”

Talking about experience, a video on youtube just challenged my notions of reality. And now I have combined all those ideas and formed my own but still the same old sold and resold version of reality purposely to spread the thoughts on the same and maybe inspire a few people to question deeply. Doubt and skepticism are art forms. The only difference might be my language of description- many a time philosophers have argued, sometimes in their heads, on what exactly is reality. Here is my take.

I believe reality is layered and we can only perceive the top layer. We live in the top layer. The top layer is our reality. There is a shrimp which can see colours in the electromagnetic spectrum. That shrimp’s reality, however fact-based it might be, is infinitely different from mine. I wear glasses too as I am short sighted. Suffice to say I cannot be a reliable eyewitness without my glasses and even then… we see the world differently even though our range of reality is bound by the same limitations and rules.

Hypothetically, we are swimming in an ocean of possibilities and what keeps us afloat is reality. Beneath the surface of the ocean are other layers of reality, which can kill us if we are not too careful. I think this is a good example- another is an astronaut in space. An astronaut in space is confined to a small reality in the form of the space suit and oxygen tank. That is far as his reality goes. If he removes the gas mask or suit, he will die. His awareness of the lack of oxygen and possible radioactivity in space is what keeps him alive.

Consciousness- the tree in the middle of the garden of Eden: let me borrow a familiar story for the sake of understanding. What is implied is that ignoring reality is death since reality is what keeps us alive. Away from those extreme scenarios, if the environments change say on land, reality becomes favourable. An astronaut does not need a space suit on earth. An understanding of rules and limitations therefore keeps reality in check and us alive.
Reality is highly reactive.

The rules of reality are subjective depending on how we relate with them. If we go digging through the layers of reality without considering the rules of reality then we put ourselves in danger. That’s exactly what philosophers do! And scientists go even further and look for proofs for different realities. The deaths of Socrates and Jesus are both similar in that they both challenged accepted notions of reality. They explored too much, exposed too much and people got uncomfortable with their contrarian views. But let me refrain from the spiritual before I lose the last person still reading this.

A more scientific example is when Galileo proved in the 1600s that the sun was the centre of the solar system. He was placed under house arrest.These examples prove that people who explore the foundations of reality will be met with a lot of resistance. If we are in a simulation as people like Elon Musk believe, then the person who comes with the irrefutable proof certainly will be silenced. There is no reality without life- truth is the exact opposite. Pure truth exists even beyond the life (or life forms) perceiving it. But humans we have watered down truth through the ages. As I’ve said before, “The mother of truth is belief. Facts are nothing but a foster home for truth.” People will believe any BS and often people edit facts to suit their beliefs and build their “false” truths.

PATIENT 267

This is the selfie of ads. I am a self-serving guy but do read on please.

The doctor stops at the door number 267. He shakes out his keys from his white coat and proceeds to open the door. It slides open noiselessly. Eery ever since he’s been here for three years now he hasn’t got used to the ‘noisy silence’ inside the asylum. He wouldn’t be surprised if some people got insane here instead of the more normal scenario whereby people’s insanity led them here.
The door shuts close behind him. He looks around the room. White walls, shining bright, white bedclothes and the figure convulsing incessantly on the bed. His patient. He administers the injections one after the other. They are fast working. In minutes her breathing slows, the trashing reduces before coming to a complete stop as the sedatives work their way through her circulatory system. She doesn’t immediately go to sleep though. The doctor reminds himself to increase the dosage. She’s developing some resistance.
Looking at her you wouldn’t think she’s mad. She’s homely, quite good to look at. Some would say beautiful and the doctor would too if it wasn’t for the seriousness of his work. And her condition. She is schizophrenic. She has a split personality. She controls her breathing, focusing her attention on the doctor’s face. She stares unblinking as she regulates how she breathes. The doctor if unnerved by the burning gaze does not show it. ‘Fascinating,’ he thinks. She is slowing down the effects of the drugs by sheer will power. And she is succeeding.
‘Doctor how are you today,’ she asks.
‘I am totally fine. It is you I am worried about,’ The doctor responds.
‘As you can see am quite okay,’ She spreads her arms outwards over the bed.
‘Any pain? Headaches?’
‘Yes. A little. Around my temples. I didn’t sleep very well.’
‘Very well. I recommend you sleep at least eight hours from today.’
‘I fear I have insomnia.’
‘If that is the case then some sleep inducers will help you catch some sleep.’
‘Anything you say doctor.’
She continues to study his face. It is beginning to disturb him. She looks at him like he is the object of some insane fascination- a childhood toy she always hoped for. Poor her. She will always be like this, not knowing that it is her who has the problem. Not him. But she doesn’t understand that and so she keeps staring. The doctor’s time is up. He retreats and The engineer comes forward. The engineer wants things fixed. If only The doctor and The teacher were cooperative.
Her face slowly swims to The Engineer’s gaze. She smiles at him. She likes him- he’s almost sure of that.
‘I hope the Doctor didn’t misbehave while I was away doctor.’
‘He didn’t. He tried to treat me as usual.’
‘Something needs to be fixed. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.’
Patient 267 convulses yet again and The teacher comes forth. He looks at her face, and like the Engineer he understands he’s the one who is the patient.
‘Hello there. It’s The teacher, isn’t it?’ she asks.
‘Yes. You’re learning.’
She administers yet another doze for the man now going by the name The teacher- patient 267. On the way out she notices something she’s never seen for the five years she’s been working here. The frame of the door is going loose. She reminds herself to inform management. The door needs to be fixed. She shrugs.
‘Guess the Engineer was right.’