The reality is not as obvious and simple as we like to think.
Some of the things that we accept as true and take at face value are notoriously wrong.
Scientists and philosophers have made every effort to change our common perceptions of it. The 10 examples below will show you what I mean.
1. Big Freeze.
Big Freeze is the theory of the final state that our universe is heading toward. The universe has a limited supply of energy. According to this theory, when that energy finally runs out, the universe will devolve into a frozen state.
The thermal energy produced by the motion of the particles will gradually wear out, which means that eventually, this particle motion will slow down and, presumably, one day, everything will stop.
2. Solipsism.
Solipsism is a philosophical theory, which asserts that nothing exists but the individual’s consciousness. At first, it seems silly, but if you think about it, it really is impossible to verify anything but your own consciousness.
To check this out, take a moment to recall all the dreams that you have experienced in your life. Is it not possible that everything around you is nothing but an incredibly intricate dream? But, you may say, there are people and things around us that we cannot doubt because we can hear, see, smell, taste, and feel them, right?
Yes, and no. People who take LSD, for example, say that they can touch the most convincing hallucinations, but we do not claim that their visions are a “reality”. Your dreams can simulate sensations as well. After all, what you perceive is just a product of the information processing that takes place in different sections of your brain.
As a result, which parts of existence can we not doubt? Probably none. Each of us can only be sure of their own thoughts.
3. Idealism
George Berkeley, the father of Idealism, argued that everything exists as an idea in someone’s mind. Berkley discovered that some of his peers considered his theory to be stupid. The story goes that one of his opponents kicked a stone with his eyes closed and said, “I disprove it thus!”
The idea was that if the stone really only existed in his imagination, he could not have kicked it with his eyes closed. The way Berkeley refuted this is hard to understand, especially in these days. He argued that there was an omnipotent and omnipresent God who was able to see everything simultaneously.
4. Plato and the Logos.
Everybody has heard of Plato. He is one of the world’s most famous philosophers. Like all philosophers, he had a few things to say about the nature of reality. He argued that beyond our perceived reality, there lies a world of “perfect” forms.
Everything that we see is just a shade, an imitation of how things truly are. To learn more about these ideas, read about Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which is a sort of the ‘Matrix‘ in its ancient version.
Plato argued that by studying philosophy, we have a chance of catching a glimpse of how things truly are and discovering the perfect forms of everything we perceive.
In addition to this stunning statement, Plato, being a monist, said that everything is made of a single substance. This means (according to him) that everything – from stars in the sky to the dust under your bed – consists of the same basic material, but in a different form. With the discovery of atoms and molecules, it has been proven true to an extent.
5. Presentism.
Time is something that we perceive as a reality. Of course, we usually divide it into the past, present and future. Presentism argues that the past and the future are imagined concepts while only the present is real.
In other words, today’s breakfast and every word of this article will cease to exist after you finish reading it until you open it to read it again. The future is just as imaginary because the time cannot exist before and after it happened, as claimed by St. Augustine.
6. Eternalism.
Eternalism is the exact opposite of presentism. This is a philosophical theory that says that time is multi-layered. All layers of the time exist simultaneously, but the measurement is determined by the observer. What they see depends on which point they are looking at.
Thus, dinosaurs, Queen Victoria and Justin Bieber all exist simultaneously but can only be observed from a specific location. If one takes this view of reality, then the future is hopeless and the deterministic free will is illusory.
7. The Brain in a Jar
The “brain in a jar” thought experiment is a question discussed by thinkers and scientists who, like most people, believe that one’s understanding of reality depends solely on their subjective feelings.
So, what is the essence of this thought experiment? Imagine that you are just a brain in a jar that is run by aliens or mad scientists. How would you know? And can you truly deny the possibility that this is your reality?
This is a modern interpretation of Descartes’ evil demon problem. This thought experiment leads to the same conclusion: we cannot confirm the actual existence of anything except our consciousness.
If this seems to sound reminiscent of the movie “The Matrix“, it is only because this idea was part of the very basis of the story. Unfortunately, in reality, we have no red pills…
8. The Multiverse Theory
Anyone who has not spent the last ten years on a desert island has heard of “the multiverse” or parallel universes at least once. As many of us have seen, parallel words, in theory, are worlds very similar to ours, with little (or in some cases, large) changes or differences. The multiverse theory speculates that there could exist an infinite number of these alternate realities.
What’s the point? In a parallel reality, you may be living in the opposite corner of the world or may have already died in a car crash. In another one, you might have never even been born because your parents never met. The probabilities are endless.
9. Fictional realism.
This is probably the most fascinating branch of the multiverse theory. Superman is real. Yes, some of you would probably choose a different story, for argument’s sake, Harry Potter might be real too.
This branch of the theory argues that given an infinite number of universes, everything must exist somewhere. So, all of our favorite fiction and fantasy may be descriptive of an alternate universe, one where all the right pieces came into place to make it happen.
10. Phenomenalism.
Everyone is interested in what happens to things when we aren’t looking at them. Scientists have carefully studied this problem and some of them came to a simple conclusion – they disappear. Well, not quite like this.
Phenomenalist philosophers believe that objects only exist as a phenomenon of consciousness. So, your laptop is only here while you are aware of it and believe in its existence, but when you turn away from it, it ceases to exist until you or someone else interacts with it. There is no existence without perception. This is the root of phenomenalism.
Which of these mind-blowing theories about the nature of reality appeal to you most of all? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
H/T listverse.com
art by Victoria Audouard
In regards to Solipsism. It’s an interesting theory, but what we consider to be “real” can’t simply be a dream, because when we are dreaming, we are not bound by the laws of physics. What we experience during consciousness, what we consider “real”, is indeed limited by the laws of physics.
@josh
I don’t believe you have adequately concluded your argument against the solipsism theory, based on “the difference you find between; what you consider ‘real’ life (with physics) and sleep (a little less “physics’y”)”
Due to the possibility that ones waking life could also be a highly realistic dream state revolving around your personal perception. …to the point you are able to dream inside your dream (with the more flexible physics)
*random suggestion* > watch “waking life” 🙂
I don’t agree with the theory of solipsism because others can let you know that you are actually seeing something, touching, ect.
@Ofir
And how do you know that those ‘others’ aren’t just phantasms conjured by your mind/sensory organs to reinforce ideas and beliefs that your conscious mind has already accepted?
Phenomenalism and presentism are alike/
Really interesting article. Have been thinking on the same line for quite some time. Looking forward to read more of your stuff.
Since there is now way of proving anyof these viewpoint, what you believe becomes a matter of faith, right? Just like religion….
I go with almost with every theory , indeed all of them might co-exist .
The multiverse theory , plato n logos n solpsism are dominating in my view.
All of this is real!.. ask! were? why? and how? if not in who? for most i know .. somthing had to make amends with nothing for all to be… looking into the materializations of infinity will get you knowere.. faith yes, trust all creation, something like why Plato had to claim to know nothing with all that he knew.. the answear is to meet God
All the theories is different perception of the mind of thesame dream-reality we are.
imo faith and philosophy are very much interconnected. philosophy is just a rational based approach to many questions faith, religion and spirituality attempt to answer
How about the theory of collective consciousness? 🙂 I think it makes the most sense.. Perhaps you could add it! Thank you for an awesome article!
Love the multi-verse theory. This makes the most sense!
Multiverse is not the same thing than parallel universes. Multiverse says there are other universes (lots of them) with different physical laws, with neutrons with electrical charge and without mass, with other chemical elements, etc. That universe (those universes) also have arisen with the BIG BANG (or with other Big Bangs). The parallel universes would be rather ‘parallel realities’, rather than literary nature, where there are universes with different pack ‘stories’ or ‘different facts’, where ‘I am another’ or ‘act (or live) different stories’ to which live in ‘this’ universe …
Phenomenalism makes me think of the way babies perceive the world. Before their brains fully develop, if they can’t see it, it doesn’t exist and isn’t there.
I would recommend you to add on your list the Spiritism by Allan Kardec. The immortality of the soul, reincarnation, and the action-reaction law would definitely blow our mind.
Robert A Heinlein dealt with #9 in Number of the Beast. I seem to remember that the professor in Moon is a Harsh Mistress was a proponent of a version of #2
Nice article. I really enjoy the theories surround solipsism and the idea that all there is, is awareness itself. One essence appearing as the many.
Phenomenalism.
this is the reason Socks disappear all the time… lol
The article u have just written is just another article by the dozen. These are just some random theories and some of them even contradict. Not to mention that they are far from mind blowing. I hope you will write something real next time. I wish you the best
Phenomenalism sounds very similar to the Observer Effect in quantum physics.. the idea that the result of an experiment cannot be separated from the observer. Similarly, the existence of whatever we consider to be ‘physical’ around us is actually in a superfluous state of infinite possibilities and the very act of our observation collapses those possibilities into a single event, thereby ‘solidifying’ it, so to speak.
#1 makes perfect sense — I just won’t be around to see it. 2 &3 are, to me anyway, absurd, based on one thing — pain. My ideas, thoughts, dreams, etc. do not include the very real experience of pain.
#4 I’ll grant, as an accidental.
#5 I’ve often thought about, it’s an interesting mental exercise; #6 was how I imagined ‘god’ when I had that faith.
#7, also absurd to me. #8 & 9 have been entertaining ever since I read Larry Niven in the 70’s. But I think you’ll find #10 in Alice’s Wonderland.
….. These are not Theories, they are nothing more than a hypothesis, there are two definitions of the word theory and in science that is not the correct way to use it.
We say some of these are possible though through mathematics like the “multi-verse theory” but none of these are testable or even considered a fact yet. They are interesting proposals though.
This article seems funny and at the same time very convincing. Life is meaningless and empty and we human beings are meaning making machines. So change your perception and the world around you will change.
Great post, great work
Why feel the need to pick apart the article? These theories aren’t supposed to all be coherent and non-contradictory; and is it really necessary to argue about the semantics of theory/hypothesis? This is a very basic and reader-friendly presentation of some of the more notable extreme theories on reality from different philosophers and scientists through history, which is nice because it puts complicated ideas into simple and basic summaries that the average person with no background in philosophy or science can understand. Accept the article for what it is and quit bitching.
Very glad to know these theories! good read
These are heading in tangents from the truth, our mind is created to be able to see what ever it wants to see. Perception of reality was just a mistake witch has dumbed down the human race it was just consciousness creating an idea and inhabiting itself within that idea. The pineal gland in the human body second to the heart has the largest blood flow in the entire body, coincidentally no human can stimulate this muscle with out the intent of stimulating it. When this is achieved it is the gate way to unlimited thought processes.
I guess what Iam trying to say in a nut shell the truth is inside of every bieng, everyone is spirit, spirit can do what ever it wants. If you are ready to focus your intentions you will see truth.
The brain in the jar blows my mind. If it’s true, I’m glad that I’m not aware I’m just a brain in a jar…it’s much better this way.
10 Phenomenalism, there is some sense to this, after all it only is when you know it is.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention Michael Talbot’s “The Holographic Universe.”
Something far less existential in mature, anyone know the source of the image at the top of the article? Very facsinating
It’s beyond comprehension to even attempt to understand how huge the universe is, and if energy were to stop, what that would do to all of us little folk.
What about mathematical patterns? Fun to ponder. Some believe this. I’m holding judgement. If you believe that patterns are everywhere. Patterns make up everything. Then on the largest of scale our world or even our galaxy is a pattern that is replicated throughout the universe. There is a duplicate of you out there as your pattern of molecules and cells have many in the universe thus creating a pattern. Creating many of you.
>that given an infinite number of universes, everything must exist somewhere.
That explanation is just stupid or naive. There is infinity of real numbers between 2 and 3, but it doesn’t mean, that number 4 is somewhere there too.
Your perception of your environment is influenced by your past experiences, your beliefs and expectations. This is why each person’s perception of reality is different.
The scariest part of the multiverse is that of an existence doomed to nothing but suffering and pain.
The beautiful part is that of eternal bliss and happiness.
Life, we only have one.
Choices, we have many.
Quality of life depends on our choices.
Our choices depend on our quality of life.
Where are you bringing yourself.
Happiness, our contentedness with our choices.
Our Contentedness, our satisfaction with what makes us happy
A good way to see and understand the concept of The Multiverse Theory is to watch the TV show Sliders.
Another way to understand it is to read “The Long Earth” by Terry Pratchett.
So the tree that falls in the wood and no one is there does not make a sound. Because it does not exist if it not being perceived. Fallacy of some sort.
ya right,except to the mouse it fell on.Can some one please explain to me all of the trees on the ground that fell before I got there or even knew the place existed.Thank you.Here’s another one.A jet is flying at 30 thousand feet.A passenger uses the john.Unbeknownst to the passenger the waste is ejected from the jet and plummets to earth.Bob is in his trailer trying to watch T.V.BOOM !!!said now frozen doo-doo crashes through ceiling of trailer instantly killing unfortunate,unknowing Bob.Please explain how this couldn’t happen when no one seen it comeing,,,or going for that matter.
That will mean there is nothing like a truth independent of perception and so TRUTH itself doesn’t exist, the world is one mass hallucinations
The Theory of Ancient Indians- the Theory of Advaita has been missed out. It denies the existence of anything Dual and focuses on the Oneness of Existence. All that exists and all that doesn’t is you. You are the little insect searching for food and you are the mighty sun shining above. This theory melts the difference between God and Evil and tells us that the difference is in the kind not in the form. Evil is an altered form of the good and nothing else. The theory further propagates that when there is a single existence, there must only be a single consciousness – the Universal Consciousness. And hence all these multiple forms that we see around are nothing but mere illusions, run by the same Universal Energy.
It’s almost the same as Sufism.
I’d like to point out that number one is totally barnacles. It’s called entropic doom, it’s when all the energy in the universe favours positive spontaneity. Not the energy running out. That doesn’t happen, if energy ran out, then you wouldn’t hear a sound when you dropped a plate on the ground, nor would it smash. Thermodynamics, dude.
I think it means *heat* rather than just energy in general. Saying that when all the suns or stars or anything generating heat runs out of energy and the heat turns into some other energy form, then all that’s left is coldness (I’m just 14 so i don’t really know what I’m talking about so feel free to correct me if I’m wrong)
That’s the correct understanding.
It loses heat,
But the motion and gravitation provides the ampoules heat, and thus it continuous….
Great loved it! I really have always admired Solipsism because if you think hard enough, it impossible to prove that anything exists out side of your own consciousness. vsause did a great video about this
http://youtu.be/L45Q1_psDqk
#10: Well no because if you left your laptop on and left for 10 hours you would return to a battery-less laptop
actually, because you know or you’ve been taught that an electronic device has limited battery power, when you return you are imagining the laptop as having lost power…
Then what happens, when you return home to your pc, and it’s stolen? you really thought it would be there, and it’s gone – unconciously made up?
These 10 theories define Zeitgeist 2014. So, for most folks bright as you are, it’s not mind blowing. 🙂 You have done a wonderful job of digesting them clearly. Way to go, kid!
The brain in a jar/vat I just call technological solipsism.
Pantheistic solipsism.
#10 – In Perceptual Physics this principle is called the Conservation of Reality. It is currently being integrated (backdoor) into several ranch projects incl ISEE-3 Reboot.
Theories are really interesting. Though, I think that everyone perceives the world through his own glasses.
The problem with philosophy is that it ends up in circular logic because our words are constructed by one dimensional thinking, such that they only reflect a two dimensional understanding.
Such as; Up verses down, then there is right verses wrong, in and out, back and forth, good and evil, God and Satan, etc, etc, etc.
What we use to communicate are symbols designed within our two dimensional thinking reality thus they can only reflect back upon themselves as circular thinking, and cannot give us any clue as anything beyond what we perceive as this reality.
Thus my friends, philosophy, and those 10 items above are for naught, and are no more than conjecture that cannot be proven. But, science is coming close.
You all should watch the series “Closer to Truth” hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn.It might give you some fresh perspective…
Nice collection.