Reality

We explain what reality is, the philosophical vision and social reality. Furthermore, objective and subjective reality.

What is reality?

reality is a philosophical concept used to designate the world as the totality of real things.

Due to the difficulty of its definition, reality can be understood in a positive and negative sense. The positive sense abstractly expresses the totality of what exists, that is, what “is” currently. The negative sense states that the concept of reality can only occur in contrast to appearance or possibility.

• See also: Plato's Cave Myth

Etymology and concepts of “reality”

The term “reality” comes from Latin beefwhich means “thing”, which in turn comes from realitywhich means “quality relative to the real thing.” Realitas comes from beefwhich is used to refer, in a general way, to a thing or object. Due to the ambiguity of what it designates, the word “reality” admits many meanings. These are:

• The real as opposed to the apparent. This definition presents the problem that what is apparent can also be real.
• The real as actuality in the sense of existence. This definition presents the problem that other modes of being can be real, for example: being as a possibility, being as an impossibility, etc.
• The real as actuality in the sense of effectiveness. This definition presents the problem of considering only the “real news”, what is being concrete at the time of its enunciation.
• The real as I activate it. This definition presents the problem of converting being into its own determination.
• The real as that which designates greater or lesser fullness of being. This definition presents the problem of making the reality of a being depend on the sum of its positive predicates. Thus, a real being is one of which existence, quantity, place, materiality, etc. can be predicated.
• The real as that which can be perceived. This definition presents the problem that the senses can be deceived and we can perceive things that do not currently exist.

The problem of reality

Reality as a philosophical concept can be understood in a positive sense or in a negative sense. In general, it is suggested to use both senses in a complementary manner.

The negative way points to the possibility of naming in discourse elements that we cannot say are real in the actual sense (for example, a unicorn). The positive way says that the real is that which is given concretely in existence.

Regardless of which sense is used, the problem of reality (or what is real) is a metaphysical problem which has generated endless discussions and debates among philosophers throughout the history of philosophy. Most of them relate the problem of reality to the problem of essence and existence. While some suggest that only essence is “real,” others consider existence to be the only thing of which existence can be predicated.

A third group of philosophers maintains that Only through experience can we conceive an idea of ​​reality. For Kant, for example, the real is that which is given within the framework of possible experience. This means that the real is that which can be perceived, that which is given to a sensation that positively accompanies the consciousness of the object that is perceived.

In general, most thinkers equate reality with what is presented to a consciousness or with an object about which something can be said. This, however, remains problematic, since it implies a notion of object or consciousness that is not always unanimous.

For all these reasons, and the difficulties that arise from them, The scientific-philosophical community postulates the idea that the concept of reality is not univocal and that, however, intuitively it can be used to describe a series of entities that go from the least real to the most real. An example of the latter is the passage from an imaginary being to a possible one and to a real one.

Objective and subjective reality

There is a way of understanding reality that is based on the distinction between objective reality and subjective reality.

• objective reality. It is the reality that is linked to tangible objects, which continue to exist even though they are not perceived, and whose perception is shared by all individuals in the same space and time. regardless of the inner reality of the individuals.
• subjective reality. It is the reality that depends on the individual perception of each person, and that is part of each person's inner world.

Augmented reality and virtual reality

The terms “virtual reality” and “augmented reality” belong to the field of technology and computing although they also raise debates and ideas of metaphysical interest.

First of all, virtual reality encompasses certain digital environments generated through computer software in which a user enters thanks to a set of cybernetic glasses or helmets, and can experience a simulated world as if it were the real one.

This type of technology has educational, psychotherapeutic and even medical uses but where it has been most widely developed is in the field of video games. Its origins date back to the mid-20th century, when the first military training simulators were created.

For its part, augmented reality encompasses a set of more recent computer technologies, which modify the perception of the real world through different devices such as smartphones or tablets.

In this way, the perceived reality can be enriched with simulated digital elements, which can be interacted with through the device, as if they were part of reality.

It is a technology widely used in video games but which has enormous educational, scientific, informative and tourist potential.

References

• Ferrater Mora, J. (1978). Abridged Dictionary of Philosophy v. 1: ak. South America.
• Salazar Paniagua, F. (1994). Philosophy and reality.
• García, JJ (2004). Reality and thing-sense in Zubiri's philosophy. The Xavier Zubiri Review, 689-97.
• Vásquez, A. (2006). Rorty: reality as a successful narrative and philosophy as a literary genre. Limit. Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy and Psychology, 1(13), 5-23.
• Carrera, R. (2020). On the essence and dynamic structure of reality, key texts in the construction of the philosophical thought of Ignacio Ellacuría. Realidad, magazine of social sciences and humanities(155), 47-66.
• Soto, HN (2009). Intensity and reality. Regarding two central concepts of Kant's philosophy. Themata. Philosophy Magazine(41).
• “Reality” in the Dictionary of the language of the Royal Spanish Academy.
• “Reality” in Filosofía.org.
• “Reality” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.