this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2026
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Scientists are considering the idea that our perception of reality is shaped not only by our senses but by our brains creating an internal map or model of the world around us.

This means our perception of what’s true or real is malleable, and we are at risk of losing our grasp on it. The result can be tragedies like the Jonestown mass suicide and Nazi Germany.

Some philosophers think that evolution cares more about how to survive than about any accurate version of reality, which can lead to “useful fictions” about the world.

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[–] ElBarto@piefed.social 3 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

That's like saying that there are facts and alternative facts.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 3 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

No. It's like saying there is visible light and invisible light. Which is true, there's ultra violet and infra red, but you don't know that because you've seen it. Your can't see infra red, that is the point, your model of the world is based on words, not on 'reality'.

[–] InabaResident@feddit.org 3 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Just because we can't see it doesn't mean we can't observe it and characterize it. This line of thinking is so limited because it only considers our senses in how they're applied directly.

Is reality actually what we experience? Who knows. Does it matter? Not really, I'd argue. There are provable facts underlying the reality we experience which are true regardless of an individual or even a collective's perception of them. Gamma rays exist without you perceiving them. But they are provably true. Their effects can be measured. They can be observed. If they couldn't, then we would never know they exist and thus they'd in essence not exist for us. But would that matter?

[–] ElBarto@piefed.social 2 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago)

Thank you. That was exactly what I tried to express, though I did focus on perception in my reply, I must admit.

Reality is reality. The Earth revolves around the sun, whether earthworms know it or not.

[–] ElBarto@piefed.social 1 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

I can understand most of your point, but that last part is just weird. My model of the world is not based on words. It's based on observation and perception.

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca -1 points 14 hours ago

Good for you bro