Monday, 16 February 2009

• The Theory of Effective Reality

              I have been in a severely philosophical mood of late. Many interesting little tidbits, several of which have been indelibly helpful, have risen out of life's recent, seemingly plain experiences. In the midst of this, a theory has approached me and my mind has bent itself to turning this idea to all angles. I'd like to expound on it here, hopefully to receive much needed feedback.

  It's a theory of effective reality. It's massively applicable, exposes the core of the balance between human perspective and reality. But, first. I must build a foundation.

   

              Psychology and beliefs have never been separate. Psychology, at its heart of hearts, is about exploring the human mind -- it's finding out how people think about everything and the effect of that perspective of their life. Beliefs or religions are pre-constructed patterns of thought. A person's beliefs are a matrix or a template and their thoughts are directed and focused through that matrix. In turn, those thoughts effect a person's life. The most powerful force man has is the idea; thoughts are the seeds of actions. Because thoughts are so powerful, the matrix which directs those thoughts is perhaps the only think more powerful than the thought itself, simply because what you believe controls what you think which controls how you live and die. So, to me, psychology and beliefs have been two pieces of the same life.

   

  This is the main question. How do you discern the difference between two belief templates? Or what a good way to think and what is a bad way to think?

   

  To answer this, I need to re-establish the credibility of reality.

  I want to begin at the standpoint of relativism, namely because it is a belief centered around human perception. In essence, it relativism says whatever you choose to believe becomes reality. A big part of relativism came from the quantum physics and the study of photons. Scientist wanted to research photons as a wave, and photons appeared to be a wave. Other scientist wanted to research photons as a particle and they appeared as a particle. This brought about the philosophical question: Is reality what I want it to be at the moment?

  This should be test on a larger scale as well with something more common. Say I conduct an experiment. I believe 2+2=5. Taking an empty jar, I put two paperclips inside, add two more, but I don't get five. Here, reality is disproving the notion that reality is simply what I want it to be. Indeed, reality has disproved me many other in objective and subjective experiences as well.

  Evidence exists to support that there is a reality which arches over human perspective. Human's can take whatever perspective they want, but a firm reality exists apart from human perspective, and the reality will punch through human perspective like paper. (Gravity and inertia are other excellent laws beside mathematics which support this.)

   Once we know reality to be credible, or at least separate and dominant over human perspective, we ask, "What is the relationship between reality and human perspective?"

              Let's begin with a metaphor.

              A questionable painting hangs on a wall. One critic dislikes it greatly and thinks its an insult to the world of art. Another critic loves the painting and thinks its an invaluable piece. Both critics are obviously being influenced by their own perspectives. Which is true? Is the painting good or bad? How do you tell the answer apart from their perspective? The answer could be neither of them are right. The painting might just be the work of an artist trying to make a living.

  Regardless of what the critics think, there still is a reality to the painting -- a reality that is above the critics' perspective. How can you determine the reality of it? In this case, is the reality of the painting either good or bad?

  A person would have to step entirely out of their perspective, and keep their perspective out of the matter, to clearly see the reality of the painting. Unfortunately, I've find stepping ENTIRELY one's perspective is unattainable, making perfect objectivity impossible. So what do you do?

  You determine whether the painting is good or bad by its effects. Even though we humans cannot escape our beliefs, reality can cut through that. If the painting is bad, you will find the majority of people coming away from it bored, depressed, hurt, or discouraged. The painting will have a negative effect. Whereas if the painting uplifts, encourages, interests, and inspires, then the painting is good. The effects of the painting stand as a testament to its reality.

   Unfortunately, with actual paintings, many other factors like culture and attitude effects how it received. That is why the painting is only a metaphor. With a thought matrixes or beliefs, their effects are universally the same regardless of the social influences.

             

  How do you know the difference between a good and a bad perspective? Or even universally, how do discern the essential reality of anything

  "Wisdom is known by her children."

  Likewise an action, a belief, a lifestyle is shown to by its effects.

  Are you being weakened or strengthened by the way you think? Do you destroy or heal people with your actions? What effect is your lifestyle having on others and on you?

  I cannot stress how unfathomably important it is to walk carefully in life. It is way to easy to fall into a bad thought pattern. You can destroy yourself and not even realize it. Everything in your life is influenced -- directly or indirectly -- by what you believe. By what you focus your thoughts around and what you bend your thoughts to.

  And everyone has a thought matrix of some kind. Everyone has a system of belief. Even atheists fall under religion because they avidly disbelieve in a God.

  I encourage everyone: Know what you believe, why you believe it, and what it does both to you and others. The first step in anything is discernment. Whatever you believe in or whatever thought matrix or religion you examine, remember that wisdom is known by her children.

  Good and bad, regardless of their appearance and regardless of your perspective, are always known by their effects.   

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