Well, delve into it now. What do you think the difference is between existence and reality? Post your thoughts here.
I was wondering when this thread would pop up I don't really have an answer yet though, I'm going to have to think about some more and come back later.
Existence is a derivative of how we view our surroundings based off of sense and perceptions, and I believe reality is just what it says on the tin; the world and universe itself. I think the point that's trying to be made here is how does our perception of reality, or existence, differ from the truth that is reality itself. It's a rather complex question given the fact that complete knowledge of all topics to a full degree will never be achieved and this our perceptions of the universe will be ever changing. Just look back to the 1600's when the colonists were first settling along the eastern coast of northern America for a great example. Back in those days they truly believed that the unsettling forest that stood before them was in fact the devil's final hold against the forces of humanity. Skip forward to the 1800's, Lewis and Clark are in that very territory that was not long ago thought to be a den of absolute evil just on a journey of discovery. Skip forward another 200 or so years, mankind has put a man on the moon; a feat we had once thought to be an impossibility. Since then, we've expanded our knowledge and understanding of the universe around us trumping old beliefs, myths, and legends. The point I'm trying to make is, our perception of reality, or existence will be forever changing the more we learn about ourselves and the universe while reality itself will never change, it just is.
This all sounds like your just over thinking everything. What zephyr said, just sounded like a fancy way of saying we learned something. -- Sent from my Palm Pre using Forums
Both reality and existence are what we perceive. Existence, however, is what we sense, as in see, hear, touch, smell, etc, while reality is our enterpretation of it. Thus, between all of us, there is only one existence, and yet everyone has their own reality. Another consequence of this is that while existence can not be changed by will alone, only by physical action, reality can be changed only by one's mind, by changing how someone sees the existence.
Some people in this thread use the subjective definition of reality and others use the objective definition of reality. It's sort of up to you as to which you subscribe to. Even if you're wrong, it doesn't change the way you perceive the world around you, kind of like a two-dimensional being trying to perceive a three-dimensional existence. So in short, I don't really care enough to explain much further.
The only difference between reality and existence, in my mind, is that reality includes everything that has existed, exists, or will exist however, existence only includes the present time. A more interesting topic, in my opinion, would be reality vs perception.
Recap: We all think the same thing, but have different names for it. Because percieved world has been called existance, reality, AND perception, while world has been called both reality and existance as well. SUCCESS!
Existance: Boolean value - Indicative of whether an object Is perceived as real within the given reality. Reality: Perceived Existence - A state or context in which when an object is present, It exists or is assumed to exist. In my mind these are basically one and the same, Merely different flavors of such; Otherwise at least mutually dependent. What is the goal of this thread again? (I am not stating in the form of a question that the thread Is useless, no. I merely do not see what it can achieve. Refer to above post for further details). Sent from my iPod touch 4G using Tapatalk
I believe the purpose of this thread was suppose to be about how people view the world around us depending on the context we are given for those views. Stemmed from this quote which I believe is more of a reality vs perception then an existence vs reality.
we all obviously have different definitions, so Ima just say this thread debates the difference between what is and what we think is. I THINK this thread has nothing more to say. That is my reality. Whether or not that is or is not, that is up to the future.
