Real

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Reality refers to the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence. In physical terms, reality is the totality of a system, known and unknown.

Philosophical perspectives

Philosophical questions about the nature of reality or existence or being are considered under the rubric of ontology, which is a major branch of metaphysics in the Western philosophical tradition. Ontological questions also feature in diverse branches of philosophy, including the philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mathematics, and philosophical logic. These include questions about whether only physical objects are real (i.e., Physicalism), whether reality is fundamentally immaterial (e.g., Idealism), whether hypothetical unobservable entities posited by scientific theories are real, and whether God exists.

In contemporary philosophy, the most widely discussed theories of truth are those that consider truth to be a correspondence between a proposition and a fact or reality. Prominent theories within this view include the correspondence theory of truth, the coherence theory of truth, and pragmatic theories of truth.

Scientific perspectives

In science, the concept of reality is approached from a perspective that aligns closely with pragmatism and practicality. Scientific methodologies are designed to investigate and describe the universe, relying on empirical evidence gathered through experimentation and observation. The scientific method is a systematic way of acquiring knowledge about the world through the formulation of hypotheses based on such observations, and then testing these hypotheses to see if they predict new observations or can falsify existing hypotheses.

Perception of reality

Each individual's perception of reality is influenced by their own beliefs and experiences. People perceive the physical properties of the world around them using their senses, but this perception is interpreted by the brain, which can be influenced by psychological factors. Thus, the perception of reality can vary greatly from one person to another.

Cultural and social constructs

Reality can also be shaped by cultural and social constructs. These constructs are an agreed-upon concept of reality among specific groups of people, often influenced by societal norms, language, and individual beliefs. Examples include the concept of social roles, money, and the laws of a society.

Reality in literature and art

In literature and art, reality often refers to the fidelity with which an artist or writer reproduces the outward appearances or superficial reality of the world, or a fictional reality created by the artist. Genres such as realism and naturalism attempt to depict subjects as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation.

See also

• Reality check (idiom)
• Simulated reality
• Virtual reality