Understanding reality is something that we have always been on the quest for. From Greek philosophers to modern neuroscientists, many disciplines have revolved around this phenomenon. In every era, philosophers have established their own perspectives about perception and objective reality. Frankly speaking, none of them have come to holistic conclusions. Of course, no conclusion is exclusive. Why? Because the subject matter is quite complex and almost impossible to drive exclusive and once-for-all conclusions. Essentially, this is because of the complex human nature.
What does this mean for common mortals like us? Well, all of us do not have the same level of understanding as the Greek philosophers. We can not simply quote Plato or Friedrich Niesche about existentialism and dive to conclusions. Instead, what we can do is rephrase what they have said in simple possible terms.
This is what a Ph.D. student at Kansas University De La Torre has decided to do. La Torre majors in neuroscience. She has decided to simplify the complex algorithms of objective reality and perception.
In this article, we will see what the research of De La Torre has to say about human perception and objective reality. Above all, we will try to understand these complex matters in the simplest possible terms through the lens of La Torre’s Ph.D. research.
-
Objective Reality is Man-Made
De La Torre begins with the confession that everything that we view in the world – and the way we view it – are man-made. For example, religion is a man-made institution, she argues. It is religion alone that constitutes our thought process and makes us who we are. Deep down, religion constitutes laws and rules we must follow to find what she calls ‘ultimate success.’ For some, this could mean earning the pleasure of god. While for others, this may mean earning paradise.
Either way, this shapes our worldview. Depending on what religion you follow, your beliefs change. In turn, you see the world differently. On the other hand, if someone does not believe in your religion, he will see the external world differently. For these two parties, the objective reality could mean two different things.
-
Family is the Fundamental Teacher of Objective Reality
Another argument that Le Torre makes in her Ph.D. research is that we start processing objective reality the sooner we get birth. So, the family background that you are born into determines your objective realities. This means that if you are born into an orthodox family, so will your perception and worldview – and vice versa.
So, parents play a pivotal role in deciding the objective realities of their kids. The language they speak and the way they speak influence their kids to follow them. Be it for good or bad – which is out of the question – your family plays a pivotal role in shaping your worldview.