Philosophers, scientists, psychologists, and
lay people define reality differently.
In general, philosophers define
reality by two primary methods. The
first, as articulated by Aristotle in the third century B.C., concerned sensory
knowledge. That is, Aristotle defined
reality as that which can be detected by one of the five human senses, i.e.,
touch, taste, smell, hearing, and seeing.
Aristotle also contributed to the second method of determining reality,
reason and logic. Building on Aristotle’s
work, modern philosophers use agreed-upon rules of reasoning, logic, and
argument. Thus, reality is that which
can be shown to exist through logical argument.
Scientists on the other hand,
define reality by starting with the definition of what is called ‘the
universe.’ The universe is the term that
encompasses all of reality. From that
starting point, scientist then form hypothesis and conduct experiments in order
to determine reality, its boundaries, properties, and dimensions, and aspects. A thing must be able to be identified and
measured if it is to exist.
Psychologists define reality
through human perception. To the
question,
“is there a sound if a tree
falls in the woods when no one is there to hear it,” the psychologist would
generally answer ‘no.’ Because reality
for the psychologist is what people believe and are able to perceive. Given the wide variation of human beliefs,
psychologists do not concern themselves as to an ultimate definition of reality
but the human response to the reality they report.
Most lay people follow Aristotle’s
insight and accept as reality what they can determine through their
senses. Lay people also rely on the
collective wisdom of mankind, through myths, folk wisdom, community, family,
friends, and through more recent developments, like books, schools, and mass
media.
In sum, there are different methods
for determining reality, and some people, through their education and training,
have developed specialized methods in defining a long human inquiry into the
question of “what is real.”
JR
