Perception is Reality?

Perception is Reality (To Be or Not To Be)

 The American Heritage Dictionary defines reality as "The totality of all things possessing actuality, existence, or essence." However, when one looks up the word "actuality," the following definition results: "the state or fact of being actual; reality (Reality)." When even a dictionary, arguably the most basic of human knowledge repositories, relies on circular reasoning to get an idea across, it is obvious that we lack the ability to fully understand it. If humans, as the sole sapient being known to exist, cannot define something as axiomatic to our existence as reality itself, then reality's very actuality must be called into question.


 Perception is also defined as the process by which people translate sensory impressions into a coherent and unified view of the world around them. Though necessarily based on incomplete and unverified (or unreliable) information, perception is equated with reality for most practical purposes and guides human behavior in general.


 We will explore the idea of an uncertain reality, from optical illusion to subliminal messaging that twists your mind to the very fabric of the universe.

Does perception define reality - can we be living in a "matrix"?
Philosophy

 Yes, it's certainly a possibility - and a concept that's 

intrinsic (

essential)

 to human culture and literature. 

 Religion is a perfect example of how people have always believed in things they cannot fully percieve that encompass things they 

claim are far greater than can possibly be concieved my human kind. Plato's allegory of the cave is perhaps the best known Classic Philosophical work, and well describes this situation. 

The Philosophy of Reality

The ways our senses present information to us are purely fabrications of ancient parts of our brain, and even all humans do not share the same sensations of sense. The very events occurring within the universe, however they are sensed, are not part of all observers' realities at the same time. However, reality is still the core axiom of our existence. As humans we need a framework to exist in. Does one unified reality exist that all sentient beings interact with and sense? No, for what we perceive depends very much on our point of view, both mentally and physically. Each person exists in their own little shard of reality, an instance of the universe created by them to house one's own worldview. We all exist in our own bubbles, merely bumping into one another's from time to time. And like Euclid's truth that a line can be extended forever in both directions, if our own idea of reality was made void, everything that is built upon it, our minds and personalities, would come crashing down.

Mass Reality

Different perceptions of reality do not only apply to theoretical life forms other than humans, there are exceptions to even the idea of a mass, human-wide perception of reality. A surprisingly large number of people, known as synesthetes, have “cross-wired” senses. This means that a person with synesthesia may sense what most people would consider solely a taste to also have a shape, or a sound to have a temperature in addition to its “normal” qualities. Synesthesia may cause a person to associate a temporal idea, such as a date or length of time, with a spatial idea such as a shape floating in space. Many people see bursts of color for various stimuli that most would consider aural or tactile (About).

But differences in personal realities are not only restricted to how phenomena are sensed. While one person may sense a phenomenon as the image of a pineapple, another may hear it as a bit of music, and a third smell it, all three can agree that there is something external to themselves at the same moment in time that they can sense and react to. However, when independent observers do not share a frame of reference, even when they are otherwise identical, their idea of what phenomena exist during a moment can vary wildly. Two observers separated by a large distance will observe an event taking place at different times by their personal clocks, due to the time light takes to travel from the event to the observer. Thus two different peoples’ ideas of reality will necessarily always be different from each other due to light lag. This effect is negligible on the scale of terrestrial life, but is still present (Greene 137). Velocity also has an affect, two observers physically close but moving on different vectors will observe events at different speeds due to time dilation.

Physical Perception

Our perception of reality is defined by our senses, and yet our senses are not capable of sensing more than an approximation of what there is in space. Matter in the universe is arrayed in at least three dimensions, and yet our retinas are only able to form two dimensional images from the visible light that enters our eyes. However, we perceive a full three dimensions. This is due to the brain up scaling from the information it has at its disposal, which presents the sentient part of our minds with a more complex idea of the world than we would with merely the raw data (Marvels 114).

The filtering and processing of information before we consciously perceive it is not limited to vision. At every moment our ears are receiving more noise than we could ever handle, the cells in between our higher brain centers and our ears filter out what is considered useless background noise. Without this relay system it is unlikely that we could ever handle the deluge of air-born vibrations that reach our ears everyday. However this mans that there are some vibrations in the air, part of "reality," that our conscious mind is never experiences. How can humans pretend to be observers of the grand, actual thing that the word reality is usually used to define, when we ignore most of the external stimuli that bombard us? (Marvels 128)

Even if only the information that is processed by our conscious minds is considered, nothing in the idea we have in our heads about what the world is like has any intrinsic relationship to the phenomena our sensory organs detect. Our eyes pick up electromagnetic radiation that is reflected by the matter around us, but there is nothing about electromagnetic waves of about 650 nanometers in wavelength that ties them to the color red that we experience when our eyes detect these waves (Wavelength). The color red, and indeed all that we experience on a daily basis, is merely the way our visual cortex presents the conscious mind with information on what the eyes sense. There is no color outside of our heads, just waves of varying frequency being absorbed by photosensitive chemicals.

Optical Illusions
{Optical Illusions are visually perceived images that are misleading to the human mind. The information gathered by the visual cortex gives the brain a perceived image that is not identical to the source of the stimulus. This causes the individual to perceive something different than reality. There are two main types of optical illusions, physiological illusions and cognitive illusions.
Physiological illusions are created when the eyes are exposed to excessive amounts of a specific stimulation such as brightness, tilt, color or movement. An example would be the afterimages caused by quickly alternating patterns and bright lights such as the sensation experienced after looking at the sun for a prolonged period of time. 
Instead of being created by stimulation, Cognitive illusions base themselves on the individual’s understanding of the world and assumptions. Cognitive illusions are divided into three subunits. These are ambiguous illusions, distorting illusions, and paradox illusions.

Physiological Illusions

“The theory is that stimuli have individual dedicated neural paths in the early stages of visual processing, and that repetitive stimulation of only one or a few channels causes a physiological imbalance that alters perception.” This is a common explanation of the neurological processes that occur when an individual experiences a physiological optical illusion. It means that our visual cortex uses several neural paths (structures of neurons that send information to the brain) and optical illusions occur when only a few of these neural paths undergo stimulation from an external source. This theory explains physiological illusions as a product of the aforementioned stimulation of certain neural paths.

There are many different types of stimulation that lead to physiological illusions. These include color, movement, tilt, and brightness. Illusions could be the result of rapidly alternating patterns, changes in color and brightness through flickering or due to the so called “blind-spot.” The blind-spot is an area of the eye which has no photoreceptors because the space is occupied by the optic nerve. These blind spots are on opposite sides of the visual field. The “blind-spot illusion”* occurs when the eye focuses on a certain point in space. When the eye is at a certain angle, the view is blocked by the blind spot because there are no photoreceptors to perceive that particular area of space. Therefore, the brain simply “fills” that space, usually with the same color that it perceives at that moment. 

Another type of illusions caused by color and contrast are called “developed illusions.” These occur because the “cone” nerve cells that are located in the center of your retina become tired. These cones make us perceive color and when looking at complementary colors. For example, the cells become tired and the brain confuses colors. This illusion effect is also strengthened by the “rod” nerve cells that are sensitive to brightness. These cells are located at the edges of the retina which means that it’s possible to perceive something from the corner of the eye, but to see it clearly the retina needs to be centered on whatever it wishes to perceive. An example of a “developed illusion” is the “gray oval illusion”*. 

Physiological illusions base themselves on our visual system’s physical constraints. Illusions are caused by physical limitations (blind-spot) and natural phenomena we have no control over (color, brightness, etc.). Because they base themselves physical aspects of the world, it is possible to experience these in real life. This means that the visual system does not always tell the whole truth. Don’t trust your eyes!

Cognitive Illusions

Cognitive illusions are based on previous knowledge and experiences of the world. The eye may perceive more than one image in a picture but the brain chooses one based on previous experiences and knowledge about the world. There are three types of cognitive illusions, ambiguous, paradox and distorting illusions.

 Ambiguous illusions deal with pictures or objects that change in appearance. The perception will switch between the possible views of the picture or object. These illusions are fairly common and occur in areas such as math with the “Necker Cube.”* The Necker Cube shows that the mind perceives both images that are present but chooses to pass on to the brain only one of the two alternatives. The mind can also switch freely between the images, but not comprehend both at the same time. 

 Paradox illusions show objects or pictures of objects that are paradoxical or impossible. Often, paradox illusions are created for the purpose of being a paradox, and are rarely found in nature. The most common paradox illusion is the “Penrose Triangle”* also known as the impossible triangle. In the case of distortion illusions, the mind sees a disordered or distorted 2D image and tries to create an image that makes sense to the logical part of the brain. The retina sees an image but the picture the mind sees is an imperfect representation of reality (in the same way the mind cannot accurately represent 2D images and 3D space). The human visual system is capable of processing complex information to create a representation of reality, but sometimes this representation is inaccurate. An interesting aspect of distortion illusions is that even though the mind knows how reality should be perceived, the visual system still creates the false representation. This is especially prominent in the “Café Wall Illusion”*, where even though it is possible to use a ruler to check that all lines are straight, the lines still appear crooked when observed. Cognitive illusions are rarely found in nature, and therefore do not play as large a role in an individuals understanding of the world. It is interesting however, that the mind can be fooled into perceiving something that is not reality, unless reality is what we perceive. Cognitive illusions have been used entertainment purposes since they were discovered and do not affect the perception of reality as much as physiological illusions. They do, however, prove that what we see is not always what is really there.

Examples

Blind Spot Illusions

Cover your left eye and look at the black cross (on the left). Move slowly towards the screen. The black dot should disappear if done correctly. It is important to focus on the black cross, or the illusions will not work. Cover your right eye and look at the black dot (on the right). Move slowly towards the screen. The black cross should disappear if done correctly. It is important to focus on the black, or the illusion will not work

Gray Oval Illusion

Are the ovals the same shade of gray?

Necker Cube

Is the green dot in the lower left rear corner? Or is it in the lower left front corner?

Penrose Triangle (Impossible Triangle)

Try creating this triangle in 3D. It is impossible, thus the name.

Café Wall Illusion

Look at the horizontal lines. Are they crooked or straight?

Psychological Reality

The human senses are not the only things which can influence our internal image of reality. The mind and how it understands and interprets what it sees has a great influence on how we understand what we perceive. A person's concrete understanding of situations is partly due to their personal experiences and information which they have gained throughout their life. This stored information filters one's perceived reality, and can completely change the meaning and value of what an object or occurrence has to them. Thusly, when people interpret the meaning of phenomena, their distinct values twist their perception, and the importance of the phenomena is not the same for all observers (Marvels 129).

An example could be a man whom in his childhood fell down a well filled with spiders and was stuck there for an hour. Understandably, he could have developed arachnophobia and for the rest of his life retained a fear of spiders (and wells). Upon visiting a zoo or similar institution, he may be scared for his life around the exhibits in the insect house, while someone without such an experience in their past would have been completely unconcerned. The past is not the only thing that can convince the mind to interpret information in such a way. Under the affects of a hallucinogenic drug such as LSD, the mind will begin to see shapes and colors which are produced within the drug-addled interior of the person's brain. These images do not exist in anyone else's perception, and are a prime example of neurological bias in perception.

Here is a little piece of philosphy for you guys out there to chow down on!
Does Perception Define Reality?
 If we knew the answer to this question absolutely, the connotations would be incomprehensible. If we realized that our fears and emotional responses had no grounding in the physical world, the obstacles that stop each of us accomplishing what is really possible would become non-existent. The possibilities in life could be infinite. Our only limitations would be physical, as opposed to mental. 
Let us put this into the context of game. 
You see someone who is attractive. You are certain they are attractive and you would like to talk to them. In your version of reality this may give them a higher value than you would give yourself. When you speak with them this is the way that they will perceive you, and they will not question your position of lower value.
Would a woman question if your level of low value were just a façade or a mental barrier? No of course not! Women are not this perceptive (not because they are women, but because they are human).
This basic perception of yourself in turn alters others perception of who you are. Your perception of reality alters the perception of people around you.

 Now another person may not find the same person attractive based on their perception of reality. Does this make the person attractive or not? How would we know? The answer is quite simple. We don’t.

In layman terms, the physical world is absolute. An apple is an apple, red is red. HB10 and HB 1 are still HB (a woman). The rating is all about your own perception of who the woman is.

There is no argument here. So we must conclude that the only thing that makes reality different for each person is based on the perception of our world that we create in our own minds. If we all had the same perception of reality, we would all be the same, mindless drones all working and living at the same level of consciousness.

A woman is a woman. But for one man she may be an obstacle, while to another he may be the obstacle himself for her to overcome. 

So depending on a person’s perception on reality, the world and the people in it can appear different. 

EACH PERSON’S REALITY IS DIFFERENT.

 This surly means then, that it is possible that if we alter our perception, and our perception can alter the perception of others, we can in fact alter Reality.

Now we have a power that we did not know we had. We have the power to change reality. Now this is nothing new, many people have had this power and not always used it for good either. Plenty of people live in a reality that they have created for themselves. Some have created the perfect reality, while others have developed a hell that we would not want to enter ever in our own lives.

When we dream, we see an alternative reality. Now how can we know for sure that this alternative reality is not true? How would we know that our current reality is not actually the dream?

Both realities our perfectly valid, but why do we have so many restrictions and obstacles in the one we are in now (the one you are in as you read this text). The truth is that we set the limitations, just as we do in our dreams. 

No one else can. No one limits you or stops you from doing anything (unless you where for example, sent to prison).

When you speak to a woman, she can turn round and tell you to go away, but this is of course based on her perception of who you are. If you can alter her perception she will want to stick around and hear what you have to say. 

All you have to do to alter her perception is to alter yours.

The ball is in your court. Before you go out next, ask yourself this question.

What is the difference between a man who has all the women he wants, and a man who sits at home jerkin’ his gherkin all day long to some low quality porno.

The answer is simple. Their perception of reality.

Works Cited

'About Synesthesia.' Synesthesia Down Under. 5 Nov. 2007. International Synaesthesia Association Australian Branch. 4 Dec. 2007 <http://www.synesthesia.com.au/id1.html>.

Greene, Brian. The Fabric of the Cosmos. 2003. New York: Vintage Books, 2005.

Marvels and Mysteries of the Human Mind. Ed. Alma Guinness.
London: Reader’s Digest, 1992. 114-143.

"Reality." Def. 3. American Heritage Dictionary. 4th ed. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.Dictionary.com. 4 Dec. 2007 .

"What Wavelength Goes With a Color." Atmospheric Data Science Center.
Ed. John M Kusterer. 28 Sept. 2007. NASA. 4 Dec. 2007 <http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/EDDOCS/Wavelengths_for_Colors.html.

Escher, M.C.. "Waterfall." 1961.

theattractionforums.com


"Physiological Illusions." www.World-Mysteries.Com. 2 Mar. 2008
http://www.world-mysteries.com/illusions/sci_illusions2.htm. 

"Cognitive Illusions." www.World-Mysteries.Com. 23 Feb. 2008 
http://www.world-mysteries.com/illusions/sci_illusions3.htm. 

"Optical Illusions." www.VisionRX.Com. 2 Mar. 2008 
http://www.visionrx.com/library/optical_illusion.asp. 

"The Proposed Theory." www.cfar.umd.edu. 23 Feb. 2008 
http://www.cfar.umd.edu/~fer/optical/theory1.html. 

"A "Psychological" Optical Illusion." www.eyes-and-vision.com. 25 Feb. 2008 
http://www.eyes-and-vision.com/influence-of-culture-on-visual-perception.html.