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

multiverse parallel universes

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


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This Post Has 426 Comments

  1. andrew

    Its amazing to see someone put so much passion into a subject. I really appreciate your hard work. I would like to thank for making us aware of such things. You have brought up a very excellent points. Keep posting stuff like this i really like it!

  2. Frank Truth

    The article is mostly wrong. These are my fields of expertise. The person who wrote the article does not really understand any of the views he expressed. By the way, none of these ten views are “theories,” they are philosophies, conjectures, hypotheses, and ideas.

  3. Tom

    Missed out on a few, holographic principle for one which they are testing now, which may end up showing us that ancient thinkers and philosophers had it right all along, that we are projections from a 2D hologram of quantum probability…

  4. BULLET

    HAHAHA

    This is so Funny.

    All of these so called theories about reality are made up using knowledge. History proves as a fact, that knowledge progress, which in turn proves that even with the most advance of all knowledge, there is still to learn. With that being said, all of these theories are thereby made with insufficicient knowledge, and therefore these theories will never turn out to be a fact.

    Simply put, there is limitation to what knowledge can produce, one can never know beyond these limitations, otherwise, there could have not been variety of these theories and that fact could have been established and accepted by all without question.

  5. Davi

    Wow, really interesting theories. I remember solipsism having a great impact on me.Actually, I get kind of sad/excited every time I read these type of theories. Imagine if a super man version of you exists somewhere or can be attainable one day in our universe? Mind boggling.

  6. Lamby Way

    The brain in a jar. Its so true 🙂

  7. Norm

    Seeing is not necessarily believing. So I readily agree with the Omnipotent and Omnipresent God.

  8. Shiva Rv

    This is one of the most rarest topics I`ve ever seen. Good work !!!

  9. Rain-aldo Wilber-to

    Much appreciation for these 10 statements about the “true nature of reality”, and your taking the time to publish them for all of us. It was a fun read!

    Sort of curious whether ‘Multi-verse’ could be equated with ‘Infinity’ (just a matter of terminology there?);
    I sort of don’t believe the human mind is really capable of comprehending infinity (in terms of diverse possible mind-structure-experiential-actualities), that could just be my belief limiting me though.

    With Phenomenalism you highlighted the main point: “There is no existence without perception.” …
    A wise one mentions states of concentration found during deep meditation such as “neither perception/nor non-perception”, “the reality limit” and “no existence whatsoever” (but that is for those very serious about meditation, not just average people like many of us; We might need a special mind-expansion technique, since we are just regular people 😉

    1. Larry Chandler

      Each of us perceives the universe, life, etc., from our own perspective based on sensory input and education. Therefore the universe is personal to all of us and there are as many universes as people. Each has its own and collectively there are billions. We can share knowledge of commonly agreed upon terms but we can’t share universes. I can understand only the miniscule part of your universe that you explain to me but I cannot step into yours nor you into mine.

    2. gongoozler

      In these discussions I use a lot of quotes to signify words open to lots of interpretation within the frame of the discussion. More on “meaning” later. Warning: I also jump around quite a bit simply because I have a jumpy mind and I like the tension between the free flow of my imagination and the need to make “sense” (IMHO) to folks.

      So, Rain, if you simply start to think about your mind you are getting a pretty good comprehension of infinity since your mind’s thinking can go “anywhere” for any “distance” “faster” than the speed of light! The brain foundation of the mind (a whole other discussion) may operate at much slower speeds than the “speed” or “distance” thoughts can “travel.” For me a good analogy is the well researched quantum cosmologic notion that with the known universe, the speed of light is as fast as things can go within the universe… but if you make Inflation Theory part of the analogy, there is no limit to how fast the universe is expanding, now and at any given time in it’s history. “Thoughts” may well be in a “place” unconstrained by physics, quantum or otherwise. Strange, no? Neat, yes! The “inability” to comprehend “infinity” is for me the experience of infinity.

      As I suggested at the beginning, these discussions can often stumble on how one chooses to use words, hence the quotes. There may be generally accepted “meanings” (denotation) but the connotation of words, “the idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning” may start off as objective but becomes increasingly subjective if you keep talking to someone about what they “mean.”

      One interesting and relevant paradox here about the mind (among many) is its desire for unequivocal certainty where none is possible. See Descartes’ discussion of “doubt” for what is certainly (Ha! Ha!) some mentally gymnastic wordcraft. I like to think of “the truth” as an asymptotic enterprise. In mathematics, asymptotes are equations that plot a line which will always get closer to the axes without ever touching it. Try getting to a wall only by walking half the distance each step. Such a notion (a kind of koan) is what makes science’s search for increasing knowledge so fascinating and a little crazy. It’s Don Quixote all dressed up in self-important drag! I intend this as a compliment both to Don and his tailor. It will never get all the way to wherever it’s going but don’t leave me behind.

      And as science progressed and the scientists discovered that “the truth,” while “out there” according to Scully and Mulder, would remain forever elusive, probability came to the rescue. Those uncomfortable with this idea of limitation (only approach, never arrive) or unlimitation (the infinite) may turn to faith of one kind or other since it offers an immediate, comforting certainty that by definition is blind in any acceptable, empirical sense. Warning: systems of belief that are not empirical frequently come with an uncomfortable sort of defense mechanism: differing beliefs can be considered intolerable. “Rational faith” requires a never ending echo chamber of fellow believers (lest one be labeled “delusional.”) I’m chill with those uncomfortable with uncertainty, but thanks for not insisting that I share your discomfort.

      Last, a brief word on meditation. Buddhism can be enjoyed and put to practical use entirely as a philosophically empirical enterprise free of any religious trappings. What makes meditation really powerful and unique is that it can be considered, when rightly thought of, as an empirical investigation of mind without employing traditional science, though fMRI’s of meditators are way cool peeks at experience that by definition is in the “privileged access domain.” Only the thinker really knows what he or she is thinking. As an empirical undertaking using the mind to investigate itself, it highlights how our the resolving power of the mind, conventionally located between infinitely microscopic and all the way to infinite-gazillions of miles/years of “spacetime” “out there” can do away with that convention when exploring itself “simply” by following the instruction to “be here now.” Of course, not that “simple” if you’ve ever tried. Anyway, mediation is called a “practice” because that is what it takes if you want to use it to explore. Personally, I do it uh…. “religiously” and after years find it difficult but my mentors assure me that that is the best evidence I’m doing it correctly! Another neat paradox here is that by “practicing” at the task of stripping away everything that “ordinarily” makes you who you are, you might experience who you are, or at least keep getting closer. Cheers!

  10. Mat

    Great article; all equally mind-bending concepts. The most mind-bending aspect of this all is that we will never know. We might once we move on to another plain of consciousness but until then, we can only pontificate.

  11. tonny

    My Big TOE by Tom Campbell is the best theory on the cutting edge out there. Do yourself a favour and look at some of his videos and read his books 🙂
    I am just someone who likes to put good information out there for all that it feels good to take in.

  12. northstar

    1. Also, the law of entropy. 2. I think, therefore I am (here on a trip.) 3. Intelligent design 4. I doubt it. 5., 6. & 8. Parallel dimensions, like peeling an onion, skin by skin, all just slightly different. Also, energy can not be created nor destroyed, only modified. Time, space, and energy are related. E = MxCsquared. 7. Mass consciousness is the bedrock reality which allows each to have subjective thoughts and awareness. 9. Fiction is called that because it is not real except in the mind. 10. True after physical death, when as spirits, we can create things by thought that dissolve when not thinking about them.

  13. Moses Chukwu

    Good Job Anna…So enjoy the aspect of the theory of Eternalism.

  14. Allen

    Love the article. But it seems that the first concept doesn’t fit in with the rest of them. 2-10 are philosophical while 1 is a physics theory.

  15. Maria Fe

    I really like the dear information you offer in your articles. I’m able to bookmark your site and show the kids check out up here generally. Im fairly positive theyre likely to be informed a great deal of new stuff here than anyone else! 

  16. Tricia

    What about Thermodynamics? Everything is made of energy that cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. Therefore, when we die, our “being” or “energy” does NOT cease to exist but is Transformed/Transferred to something else or into something else. What that is exactly, well, I would love to know. That scientific fact blew my mind and continues to comfort me when dealing with loss.

  17. AH Ontu

    nice job

  18. nk don

    These are the things what everyone wanted to know.but lack of a bit intrest they refuse…thanx

  19. Shamir saha

    Really awesome think, thanks

  20. Squib

    the thing these theories all have in common is that they were all dreamt up by the infinite collective human mind. Sure, they all exist as theories. Fantastic. The only constant is consciousness, that watches the thoughts, the minds, the ideas. You are awake and aware and exist in whatever reality you believe yourself to be in. But belief is restrictive to parameters of “can” and “cannot”. Yes. You have a vast human mind that can dream as many dreams as there are stars in the universe… but do you really want to name them all or just enjoy looking at them?

  21. SUDHAKARAN GOPALAN

    i think this way of thinking does have its direct link to ‘UPANISHADS’ of hindu religious philosophy

  22. John wikfors

    Thanks a lot. Very interesting reading.

  23. Erik

    Everything is our Consciousness its the biggest secret that has been kept hidden right in front of millions all the time. We are all a part of a Universal Consciousness. Practicing mindfulness strengthens your consciousness its that simple.

  24. Angelo

    I strongly believe that what we live, what we experience is only possible because we’ve created words/definitions, wants and so called needs. Without these things nothing would so per say exist but things would just be. So basically why is everything infinite? Because we believe it! The world is what we make of it. We spoke the first word and from there our divisive world was started! Definitions which are constantly changing prove that that certain thing does not actually exist as if it did then why does it keep changing definition? Its more proof that the truth/the answer is constantly changing and it relative to the observer!! We are One!

  25. Junior

    Interesting way to start the day.

  26. John Halderman

    I think the only theory which is least likely is the Great Glaciation, as this implies all energy was provided by something, in a fixed quantity, and that the motion, vibration, of all things are actually out of balance.

    The rest of the theories ought to be looked at in conjunction, not as each being a separate answer.

    And particularly, how do you get that Presentism and Eternalism are opposite? They are aspects of the same thing. . . everything is always now. It is only through our physical based perceptions that we see a line of time.

    I think one of the great human errs is to separate aspects of life and follow a particular rabbit hole, allowing ourselves to think then that it is all there is, THE explanation. Various ideas must be blended, like looking through a kaleidoscope rather than a microscope.

  27. MarianHJones

    These really blows my mind, but I’m very much blown by that presentism statement.

  28. Ananymous

    then how is empathy possible?
    how come we can understand others?
    how can we communicate with others?
    how can we hear something from others we did not predict?
    how can we create everything in the world are you kidding me?
    oh, so I invented this site with my imagination and also all the types of tress in the amazon forest.
    ???????????
    and for concepts like “nothing”, it’s just a word that humans made up
    think, a caveman had three grapes and ate all of it
    he made (im not saying he did) the word called “nothing” to portray the fact that now there are 0 grapes.
    People today are too much exaggerating the words, I mean, overthinking these words.
    I think people should accept what is real, how can anybody live knowing that nothing is real.
    yea, nothing exists= that caveman has no more grapes left
    its a concept human beings made to be more convenient, TO COMMUNICATE
    the multiverse theory made me suffer for 2 years but now i’m starting to think that its nonsense.
    there are SO MANY theories like the multiverse theory and they prove that Pokemon is real.
    Spongebob, Harry Potter, X-man, everything is real.
    I mean, seriously?
    btw, there is such thing as mind reading or at least telepathy
    how is that possible then??

    oh and the theory that past and future is not real?
    okay, I ate a sandwich today, I can feel it, sense it, I know I am in the present now
    then I go to tommorow and I remember that I ate the sandwich.
    So past is like a memory, oh god it’s just a concept that we use to day what we did before
    overanalyzing every single word i am sick and tired of this
    That theory led me to overthink every work I encounter for the last two years
    and I’m starting to think that this is completely nuisance and a waste of people’s time
    yes
    life is not a dream,
    so I made a theory that life is not a dream, because it’s totally different from a dream
    in fact dream is a concept that human beings made, then why does life have to be a dream huh? why cant it be something else?
    if we want to seriously think about these theories that exceed beyond what human beings can percieve, than we need to erase concepts that human beings created.
    This is kind of hard to explain but I wish people would read this:
    imagination is endless, that what I know for sure
    i think imagination in these terms are making it harmful for people
    for instance, that experiment with 50% chance of dying or living,
    why does that theory state that we are immortal
    whats so important about not dying?
    if the theory is true, why are we specifically not programmed to die but when we buy lotto tickets, we keep failing?
    hey, in fact, I went to this carnival last year and I failed 7 of the tickets and won 1 gift!
    what’s the difference between being immortal and winning a gift?
    who decides?
    nature thinks it’s really important?

    So what I’m saying is these words, concepts, knowledge that can be written or spoken are just forms of communications we invented in order to associate with one another. Why? I don’t know.
    The reason we can make up these theories and counterargue everything we talk about is because we created them. But I’m not saying that nothing is true.
    An example again, I know these leaves “exist” in front of me.
    Someone else may ask how do you know these leaves “exist”?
    If we are dreaming the leaves don’t exists OR
    The leaves are just part of another dimension you can access OR
    How do you the word “exist” actually means what it means, humans made it
    ….
    For crying out loud, linguists help me please.
    language has evolves so much that people cannot understand them anymore.
    It used to be simple but people are making it so complex and overanalyzing it.

    How about thinking world was just the world
    and we just created words to talk about it
    and now we jumbled it all up

    please, let people just enjoy these theories, not truly believe it
    it’s dangerous, and isn’t it sad to think that the world is not real?
    isn’t it suffocating to be stuck in this never-ending conclusions about the world.
    They cannot be proven because they are imagined.
    Let’s stick to reality, people

    Just to add, people who had near-death experiences have actually felt like they were alive and many of them felt heavenly experiences while some experienced hell.
    Diving into the Astroplane is realistic, I heard, and I think these are worthy of being proved as true.
    In fact, scientists who disclaim the fact can’t prove why people fom love distance apart know what each other did last night when they actually did not meet
    I personally encourage people to be Christians, just recommending.
    I think the religion is most reliable.
    there are many proofs you can find.
    and lastly,

    I wish people can trust each other more.
    Trust other’s experiences
    people are not as dumb as you think
    and everyone thinks alot
    you are not the center of the universe, don’t worry
    others are real and try to trust them, trust me
    If you try to disprove this using imagination, hah… it’s endless
    but you know that the way some people disprove them it’s completely unreliable
    then I will ask, why are you the center?
    what’s so special about you?
    why does empathy exist?
    how can you experience unpredictable actions?
    why does your mother have to teach your everything?
    You don’t even trust your own mother?
    you created the songs you listen to in Billboard?

    I’ll provide an example discussion:
    Life is all fake! It’s a dream! Everything is created from my mind!

    opp. – So you’re saying that you created everything? Are you god? then you’re mind created all those facts about chemistry?

    Maybe I am not aware, but my mind just created it. You can know nothing. Life does not have to have meanings. I don’t know why I am unconcious about the world my mind created but there’s no need for a meaning in that.

    opp. – Why are there so many people swarming in the Internet saying that their life is made by their own mind and that they are the center of the universe?

    Hmm…. my mind may be creating this again.

    opp. – you mean you can’t trust them. you can’T trust others becuase if this is true, you think that others are lying, is that right?

    If you think it that way, yes.

    opp. – what happens if you trust them?

    If I trust them…. it would mean that my theory is disproved. but how do I know whether to trust or not trust. I mean, what about the point that life is meaningless?

    opp. – So there are 50% chance of this theory being correct or not, it’s a matter of trust…….. this is hard…… then how about think about society? telapahy is infact real you know that right? Also, if you think about the concpet f empathy, we know how each other feels. As we grow up, we learn how to predict other’s behaviors. Before that …. wait… I think I need to talk about meaningless life first.

    Okay, life is often meaningless and……on and on and on
    It never ends….

    1. Austin Lee Grochowalski

      Your point is relevant but you don’t understand the nature of these theories. Time exist as a human matter and possibly another species projection of reality also. The past existed but will never exist again. As future will never be real because it will never happen in the future buy the past which is lived in the present. The theory of things exist as a perception of the mind and if you try to kick it you won’t is into logical. The Item Exist In PERCEPTION Reality And Mind But Will Only Be There in Mind Which creates perception which creates the item in imagination but you may not be able to physically kick the ball with eyes close but in mind you can perceive where the ball us and even if you kick it physically or not mentally that ball is flying through your brain. The creation of all things is in the mind. Therefor if you can see it, it’s there, If you imagine it, it is there, if you never seen it and never felt it or taste it.. you can create it by following rule of mind and law of consciousness.
      Even though you have one there is another in your head therefore you can use both. A dream you can see without seeing. Realize your dream is also true and as real as reality as life itself you may live it as you would in reality. But reality is just a word. A limitations. Like time it never existed. Like aging. It is just a word.

    2. Amon

      Babble less, read more Schopenhauer.

    3. Greg

      Empathy is possible because the root of all good lies within you.

    4. Buzz

      I could ask the same thing with your first 6 questions about dreams. We have empathy, we communicate with other people, even the deceased, we understand others, we go places we have never seen. I am older and crippled up, but in my dreams I have no pain, I compete in a pro sport like I did when I was young. I have seen things I have never seen when awake. Just something to ponder.

  29. lasida

    The Multiverse Theory is very mind blowing

  30. garrett

    Everything and nothing is real and not real at the same time and at different times…

    1. Mal

      Nothing is real unless it is viewed, in which case I am the only living person in my universe.I know and see many people in my daily life(whatever that is) but live alone, at night come home switch of the tele,radio,phone,electric,shut the curtains,computer,and cannot prove that anybody else exits.

      1. Thor

        Yes
        But I expect 4 hours later Santa came to see you.

    2. Thzone

      I also Think that

    3. Thor

      Oh no they’re not.

  31. Alvaro Barsi

    Hi Anna,
    I would like to contribute to your work. I have worked by myself on what I deem to be a new science, which I named “Omnivita”, which is very much in line with your presentation on the “perception of the world”. It is quite involved and we could chat on Skype if you want. If you are interested, please let me know. I promise that this research is original and different from anything that I have found online in the past 20 years.

    1. Madison

      Hello,
      I would love to hear about your research. If you could email me with more information I would be very greatful. Thank you

      1. Alvaro

        I am very sorry, but due to extensive nature of this research, a direct proper explanation is needed; it is not such that can be summarized in a few lines. Skype would work. Thank you.

  32. Mental Zebra

    Phenomenalism – if things cease to exist without our conscious perception of them, the electrical impulses and chemical activity of our brain would also cease to exist because although we may perceive thoughts consciously, the chemical and electrical signals used in creating that thought process are undetectable to the consciousness and cannot be perceived by our senses. without these vital processes all neural activity including consciousness can not exist…..

    1. Pete

      Phenomenalism is the easiest theory to dismiss as nonsense since most of the accidents that occur to people are a result of dangers not perceived. Crossing a city street and getting hit by a bus you had no awareness of does not make the bus non existent or your injuries any less real. Citizens of Hiroshima probably had no perception of radiation when a bomb detonated over their heads but that didn’t stop the radiation from being real and deadly.

    2. Thor

      That’s just nit-picking.

  33. Tweh Johnson

    Things do exist when were not looking leave a camera on it its still there. A tree falls in the forest it still makes a sound regardless Ive had this argument many times.It makes a sound all the time when you’re there cause and effect. Laws of physics doesn’t need your proof. #opinon If Presentism is Real why do we see change? Growth. I know its because of movement but I can’t agree with that theory.. I believe in time as a process of events as well as a continuum with diff. Layers. The great Glaciation has to be proven beyond black holes. That shit sounds crazy AF. If everything was to stop. What desire/sound would spark motion again? Consciousness? Love God? Natural Law of reset? Iono. I’d be upset if my whole life was a simulation.My brain is itching lol. I gotta meditate like a buddist monk learn Qi Gong and Flex. Word up.

    1. Dominic

      If you were to leave a camera to recording on say , but then were to look away, it wouldn’t ‘exist’. Only the construct thought made up by the neurological sparks performing your memory, perhaps, would be the thing that would make the camera’s ‘in the moment’ footage existent. As soon as one were to turn back, exists again, however. Even if you hadn’t been thinking of or had had any subconscious thoughts of it still would not exist, and here is why: becomes irrelevant, as everything is subjective.
      As soon as you had looked to see the footage of the camera, lets say you hadn’t consciously been thinking of anywhere in your brain by any thoughts whatsoever, you once again have made the apple existent, at least to an extent, as it is just footage of . I am sure if I took a little more time I could try to persuade you even more. Say, are you a glass half empty or a glass half full sorta guy anyways?

      1. Dominic

        Sadly, the site did not support the symbols I used around certain letters and deleted whole words, unfortunately, but you can still read this if my first reply to the comment above did not make any sense.
        If you were to leave a camera to recording on say an apple, but then you were to look away, the apple would not ‘exist’. Only the construct thought made up by the neurological sparks performing your memory, perhaps, would be the thing that would make the camera’s ‘in the moment’ footage existent. As soon as you were to turn back and look at the apple, the apple exists again, however. Even if you hadn’t been thinking of the apple or had had any subconscious thoughts of it, the apple would still not exist, and here is why: becomes irrelevant, as everything is subjective. As soon as you had looked to see the footage of the camera, lets say you hadn’t consciously been thinking of the apple anywhere in your brain by any thoughts whatsoever, but are now looking at the footage, you once again have made the apple existent, at least to an extent, as it is just footage of the apple.

  34. Louis Grace

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  35. Jim

    I want to comment on solipism. Is it possible that perception is something that we made up? Is reality real or is it made up in our mind. I don’t think of this too hard, or I might end up becoming paranoid, thinking that everything is a hallucination!

  36. Pete

    So according to theory #10 if you ignore the existence of your VISA bill each month it doesn’t exist….lmao!

  37. beladjar

    It’s new for me, nice post. Trying to understand. Can you recommend a book to read about those theories???

  38. Cam

    My take on reality is that matter has always existed, and we have all always existed as inteligences. I believe there is a supreme being and that just as time goes on forever into the future, it also goes on forever into the past, and there is no end. And just as our God created us, and we, like a seed from a tree grows up to be a tree, become gods of our own universes. And that our God was once a mortal like us. And his father was once a mortal, and his father, and so on to infinity… but if you think about it, time is an idea of mortals, the concept is probably foolish to eternal beings. And we cannot, with our finite minds, understand the source of reality and the eternal miracle of existance.

  39. Anneke

    I think solipism is fake.
    I mean, ofcourse, when you keep thinking about it you might feel like the world could be all made up by your mind.
    But what about other people.
    Your friends, your family, your cat, the newsman. You really think they don’t exist? You really think you are some kind of superior thing making this all up?
    Comone, you are not the only one on earth. Other people are real too. Or do you think you are the one who created this comment (WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY MINE) and that I (me) don’t exist, because you are creating this with your own mind?

    Well you are not.
    Have a nice day

  40. Edit

    Solipsism, I think it is real… It is similer to the Hindu philosophy but if you go more deeper into the the Vedanta then you’ll find that it is quite real and mind blowing…

  41. Michael

    How much of this is just “pseudoproblem?” How many people have taken the time to wonder that as far as we can tell, most people’s experience is much the same as OTHER people’s, if not identical?

    Has anybody ever considered that we ARE part of the illusion? That once we “learn” the illusion, it pretty much behaves as we expect? That no matter how hard we concentrate or “think”, there are important parts of the illusion that we CANNOT change? And that the illusion is extremely CONSISTENT from time to time, from person to person??

    What is the difference between illusion and reality? Well, the “reality” is probably the energy and building blocks of the universe, which we don’t REALLY need to experience, although they’re fascinating as Hell!! The illusion is how and what we sense in order to get along in the universe!

    We can’t stop the train by standing in front of it! But we certainly can step on the train and ride it, with virtually certain confidence that we won’t fall through the floor.

    THAT is the amazing thing!

  42. dan

    If they say something can come from nothing, how does one know that we are not the something coming from nothing?or maybe we are the nothing thats something is trying to form?One could say that we all exist and not exist at the same time, the mind makes up what it wants. I cannot see or feel what your reality is and the same goes for you. What i see as my color yellow could be your color green. No one would ever know who’s reality is right or wrong, and there would be no way of knowing. So reality is an illusion of ones own conscious mind and oberservations. did this paragraph exist before you read it, or did appear in your reality? something from nothing? or nothing that formed something?

  43. Msk

    Important thing to know. Thanks for sharing!

  44. Tasos

    Before my brain was ever distracted from school learning process, when i was 5 or six years old, i was always sure that when i turned my back to a tree, it started jumping and dancing behind my back, until i turned to watch it again. Actually many times i spend hours trying to catch it before it stopped moving, of course,in vain . By time i tried to suppress this thought fearing that if confessing it would be called crazy or something. Now in my 50s, i see that quantum mechanics in fact proved what was for me a subconscious knowledge i was born with. Consequently i think that Phenomenalism has to contain many bits of the truth out there. Feel free to contact me if you had similar childhood experiences, would be cool to know i was not the only one.

  45. Mark

    There is endless stream of new theories coming our way…

  46. The chosen one

    I hope the universe doesn’t freeze over and I’m stuck looking at a nude pic for all eternity. I would feel so bad.

  47. raju

    There was a time when I thought peace was a destination, in much the same way I imagined I’d eventually arrive at happiness or success.

    It seemed like something I needed to chase or find—definitely not something I could experience without dramatically changing my life.

    I needed to work less, relax more, and generally revamp my circumstances and relationships in order to be a peaceful person.

    Despite seeing peace as an endpoint, I also saw it as something passive—after all, that’s why I was so stressed: I had so much to do.

    I’ve since realized that peace is always available, and like any desirable state of mind, it requires effort, even if that effort entails consciously choosing to be still.

    Sure, our circumstances affect our mental state, but they don’t have to control them, not if we make tiny choices for our well-being.

    Admittedly, it’s not easy to choose peace when we’re going through tough times. I still go through periods when I get caught up in worries and stresses, and it can feel like that’s the only available response to things that have happened.

    But it’s not. There are countless things we can do to create peace of mind—both in response to events in our lives, and proactively, everyday.

    1. Nima Javan

      I ain’t believing in these words said.
      It’s not the act of having peace per se’ , it’s the question of attitude,
      it’s depended that what is your own Initial impressions of Peace. is it a breath-taking need of living or just the extra cheese on your pizza that you count as peace?
      you can easily find it out for you by knowing your personality since the answer to all these questions is based on your way of thinking and acting, Are you introverted or extroverted yourself? stone-hearted or you’ll cry by seein’ a butterfly burning in candle’s fire (If now got what i’m referring to, you are awesome!)
      peace can be just getting a “Hmm” text from your special contact or you can feel it when gunshots are shattering your alley, you can touch peace when thou walk 3 AM out in streets too or it can be the breathlessly dancing too or listening to same Linkin Park- One Thing song or a run in rain! (Don’t say No! a friend from Syria said to me about his peaceful moments during gunshots shattering his home windows.., It Can Happen by heavenly thoughts too. i know people usually count peace as a good morning getting woken up by an angel wid a cup of coffee in her hand! or any other typical sign , i’m trying to say that there’s no straight forward definition of Peace, it’s a feeling that can be touched Whenever Wherever even in a war zone.
      personally i think there’s no word to say about having Peace and being extroverted!
      it’s introverted that are called “Peace Lovin boys’ ”
      sometimes tryin’ to Make peace is like Building a fort out of sheets..
      peace
      it’s given.
      heh!

  48. Alka Raani

    hmm.
    is this whole world all in people’s fantasy ? listen to this song “Faded from Alan Walker” related to this topic.
    honestly, i think i’m losin’ my mind now!
    it’s multi dimensional idea to say about solipsism and consciousness, and it really provokes my grey cells!
    heh! i myself am trying on Inception Theory.
    in short word, neither solipsism that says everything exists as an idea in someone’s mind is completely true nor those who say this world is completely real.
    all people bring some reasons, in Hindi “Bahanna” and these thoughts never ends, just Never Ends.
    but i myself don’t care much, since i found it all in one another mother-dimension and that’s it :
    INCEPTION.
    “The Beauty is in your eyes, in your mind not actually in what you are seeing.” you must have heard this before.
    it’s all up to you the way you think of life. and once you chose your way..everything comes to prove your own thoughts and everything discounts the opponent thoughts To You. it’s what human’s mind is based on.
    one may say it’s Non-sense and one may die to prove!
    i suggest just read these and know ’em and count ’em a way to feed your brain, since Nerd mind loves to think of theories But Never take ’em as ism and beliefs. balance huh?
    anyhow! hope you getting what i’m trying to throw!
    Inception is a real big dimension of life i’m workin on, that can be expanded to every aspect of life, and what i’m sayin is just like goin to sea to take a picture, and trying to put All of the infinte sea in your camera frame, tryin to take a pic of whole sea from north cast to south beach in a picture.
    such nice example ! heh!
    right now it’s 3 AM and i’m thinkin of some1!
    beautiful destiny.

  49. devtheron

    The smallest particle is a subatomic conscious particle! Their caotic state is “reality! Evolution is what create thought. Thought collect consciousness, thus creating oceans of consciousness or gods…or black holes of consciousness, stripping and feeding off the atom world…thus repairing the singularity.

    a particle can only be conscious of its position of understanding. The process is called evolution. And the habitat is reality. Evident why consciousness only interact in the realm of reality…it feeds off reality. Thought is the reason for being.

    The result of thought is consciousness. And consciousness collect in a black hole!

    dark matter and energy is a by product of thought…thought is a process of extracting consciousness…at an event horizon…or the “living of life” the extraction of consciousness from the atom world via thought! – this theory embrace all of the above. It is conscious of all possibilities…as chaos is conscious of its position of understanding.

    Its quite simple to understand, and it is a full circle. Alpha and omega. There is no reality, only chaos.

  50. Christian Leliveld

    Our universe as we know it is simply space, ever expanding space filled with billions of solar systems, planets and stars; you are composed of nothing more than different combinations of elements AKA atoms (the smallest unit of matter).

    Now imagine this, our universe, outer space is filled with tons of spiraling solar systems like our own, the milky way. The atoms that build your body are small sperical protons and neutrons with electrons constantly moving around them. Imagine that you are the universe, that every solar system in the sky is an atom in your body. In the 1920s, Edwin Hubble discovered galaxies outside of the Milky Way. It was shocking news back then, but the takeaway was more startling. All of those galaxies were moving away from us—the universe was expanding; this could be why we grow, and whe the universe stops expanding so do we. The big bang could resemble the moment when a human egg is fertilized.

    A microscopic atom in an un see-able DNA strand that completes a chromosome stored in a nucleolus stuck, floating, surrounded by nucleoplasm inflating a flexible semipermeable membrane collectively creating a nucleus, head of an organelle filled cell, one of the 37,200,000,000,000 compact inside a human body; a miniscule part of a puny civilization that has shapen an extraordinary mass of matter we call home; planet earth a uniquely in identical rock in a colossal mash composed of countless planets and stars we call our solar system; the milky way part of an infinitely ever expanding universe known as space because that’s all it really is: SPACE, the same kind of space between the dot and line of this “i” except a voluminous measure preponderant.

    1. michaela steuer

      I prefer to think about these things in a less precise and articulate way. I prefer to do it in a less self- confinced way, because this is not like you have eaten a cake or not. It is a field of conjecture and, really, I may get convinced that things are made or explaned in a very accurately particular way and then get convined to that idea. And then, one day towards the end of my life, have to come across the fact that it is just not so and there is another even more convincing explanation to it.

      1. Dani

        i have a vague idea of what you were trying to convey in your paragraph. even though the comment before yours, from a man named christian, was a heck of a lot longer & got very intricate & complicated, i was able to follow it, even if it did overwhelm me a tad, as it did. your comment is nowhere near as intricate as his mini-novel up there is, however i do not mean that it makes your comment in any way at all simple or not profound. the problem i have in comprehending your comment is that there are so many grammatical errors that it truly does overtake whatever genuine message you are conveying to anyone reading it. i am very well-read and can almost always work my way through spelling & grammar errors in order to be able to grasp the message or “point” in what it is that i am reading – but in this particular “story” or block of text, or hodge podge of words, it’s a struggle & kind of baffling to me, as well. it almost sounds like the writings of a person who is new to the english language – that is about the best explanation i can come up with here to console myself.

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