WHAT THE F*CK IS PERCEPTION -- And What Does It Have To Do With Reality…
Really… All you here about these days is -- it's all about your perception (like it's the 60's)… Okay. So what the f*ck does that mean.., and what does it have to do with reality, wise guy..? Our perception is how we interpret.., see things -- understand the world around us, thus becoming our reality.., or what we perceive as reality.
Our perceptions of things change and shift, all the time -- but they are based on our senses. That black cat in the dark might look pretty scary.., but shine some light on it and it's a cute little kitty -- our perception has changed just like that, with just a little shined on the subject.
Granted, perception is… I've actually heard people say, on more than one occasion.., "perception is reality, man." Now, that is heavy, dude! Although.., not really true. It is how we / you, perceive -- reality.
Your perception of reality might be quite rosy… A good job (plenty of money), loving family, nice car… So, your perception of reality -- is pretty damn good. When on the other hand.., someone watching their children going to bed hungry and cold, with no job, no more wife, no friends… Now, they might not have quite as rosy a picture of reality as you…
Sounds easy enough, to discern… People have different perceptions based on your past and present situation and experiences. But yet, philosophers and scholars throughout time have pondered the connection between perception and reality… Shaping and molding peoples perceptions of their time.., and over time.
If we were to truly perceive the world, as it is… Would we be able to deal with it… Could we ever be happy.., Knowing that in reality… Everything we have can be taken away -- in an instant. Or that everything we have is nothing more than just some vibrating clouds of energy…
Plato believed -- "beyond our perceived thoughts of reality, there lies a world of 'perfect forms…' Reality as we know it is just an imitation; a copy of these perfect forms."
Plato's Allegory Of The Cave
Plato describes a gathering of people who have lived chained to the wall of a cave all of their lives, facing a blank wall. The people watch shadows projected on the wall from things passing in front of a fire behind them, and they begin to give names to these shadows. The shadows are as close as the prisoners get to viewing reality. He then explains how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall do not make up reality at all, for he can perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners -- Those prisoners he is talking about, are you and me.
You can look at it, like this -- The world we perceive through the senses seems to be always changing. But, the world that we perceive through the mind, using our concepts, seems to be permanent and unchanging.
On the other hand.., Aristotle believed Plato was full of shit!
Perception and Perspective
If you want to know about perspective, ask an artist -- they get it. They want to see the way the light shades, adds depth and lines -- all that good stuff. But when are perspective becomes settled.., to the point, where even our daydreams are familiar. With our perspective stagnant.., our perception, preconceived -- doesn't sound like a very fulfilling life.
It's through our great philosophers, artist and the like.., who try and challenge and expand our perceptions -- how we see and understand things, minus the preconceived ideas if we are luck. Possibly.., and hopefully -- expanding our understanding of the world around us… And not just the little bubble we survive in.
Picture two men… One man is wealthy and has just found out he will have to leave the palace of a house he lives in due to some unexpected renovations, for a few months. Unhappy that he will have to find a new place to stay. And he sits, mad at the world.., in his suite at the Four Seasons. Miserable.
Man number 2 has just found out his daughter will have to yet another costly operation for an affliction she was born with.., and he sits mad at the world, in his shitty trailer, wondering where and how he will ever get the money. Miserable.
Here you go -- An airplane is going through some pretty heavy turbulence.., a passenger sits imagining the worst, terrified.
At the same time -- same turbulence, the flight attendant sits calm and composed, thinking about drink service, calmly.
This subject matter has been discussed, debated, fought over and pondered… The greatest scholars of throughout time, philosophers of old, have written and preached about it. And look, just by varying his perspective of light -- Van Gogh has able to create the masterpiece, A Starry Night.
For over 80 years science (quantum mechanics) has told us what we perceive as reality -- is an illusion! That chair, that table -- made up of invisible energy clouds. But we choose to see a table.
Some have even posed the question; is this one big hallucination..?
When one hallucinates -- they perceive it as reality. You see, if everyone around you sees a bridge.., and you see a farm -- you must be hallucinating. The masses have chosen that given reality.
There would be no sunlight.., were no eyes to see it.
Our brains evolved, to present reality the human way… We do not perceive a rose the same way a lady bug, does… So who's perception is reality..? So, whenever I heard that phrase -- "Perception is reality" if I remember correctly.., it was usually being uttered by some self-involved meathead, who wanted his perception.., to be your reality.
While we can agree, that we perceive a subjective reality (the world around us) with our senses, then processed by the brain. We can also agree, this is not reality -- just your perception of it!
When you start to get into the whole -- "chicken or egg thing" or.., the folks out there don't believe that laptop is there -- if you're not looking at it. Well, it can get pretty deep. The best answer is -- there is no answer. When it comes right down to it, all we can do is rely on our best sense and instincts to transcribe our reality. But always keeping mind.., it can be taken away in a moment. And that the world (reality) consists of much more than what we can see..
Perception is very powerful… It will determine how you see your life.., and the life all around you. As your perspectives change and are altered by life experience, wisdom and knowledge.., so will your perception of life (reality). Serious seekers of this riddle, hope to transcend this world of the senses and the material.., and see the world for what it actually is -- becoming enlightened!
This is a brilliant article. I share much of the views that you have expressed about perception. I recently posted my own opinion of this topic and it was refreshing to read some of the important aspects that I have over looked. Personally, I think that "reality" is just a word used to make us feel like we are in control and that there exists a norm to life and society, however due to our perception each one of us have our own reality. Maybe you don't agree with me but that's just my perception of this illusive topic. A truly wonderful, intellectual read.
Thanks so much @yaseeny15... I guess, all we can do is live our own reality, while never forgetting there is something bigger going on right outside vision. Cheers!
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A good refresh of the allegory of the cave, thanks.
It's been a while... Cheers!
I enjoyed reading this. My perception of you is now a reality @macksby :)
Thanks! Right back at ya, @naomi.louise :))
brilliant work, great truths in his words, congratulations thank you for sharing @ macksby
Thanks so much @jlufer!
well said. I've been thinking about this a lot lately too but through the lens of my life and what's presented to me. as Anais Nin's quote so perfectly says " we don't see things as they are, we see them as we are" and I notice that how people see things has everything to do with everything including whether I want to spend time around them.
I think it's there energy we don't want to be around.., if we don't have, too :))