Is reality truly real, or merely an illusion?

[Ughubughughughughughghlug]

I think of objective reality as being like an OLS estimator for truth. You have this idea in statistics that there is a model that could explain reality, and when you run the regression (it’s just a big formula, so big it has to be done on a computer) it gives an estimate of the parameters to the model. It tries to minimize error. Assume the world we’re in is the most likely of all worlds, what numbers would best match with what we see.

In an idealist world, which is what I think we live in, it’s all in the head, objective reality is like that, but for the laws of nature. Instead of just the parameters (like fundamental constants), it’s the rules themselves. What set of rules can best explain the perception of everybody, is the least internally inconsistent.

My view opens the possibility that reality can shift with perception, but only very slightly.

 

[Fek]

What if life was like The Matrix maaaaaaaaaan? The idea was overplayed when Plato came up with it. Frankly I don't even get the point of entertaining the notion if you can't do anything to break past the perceived reality.

There's actually a great deal of research done over many, many years into that very thing, friend. I would suggest the works of Raymond Moody as a decent starting point. If medical testimonies aren't one's cup of tea, then perhaps checking out Tom Campbell's works instead will suffice. Both of these fine gents approach the idea of breaking past perceived reality from a more "left brain" side of things.

In likelihood nothing is real. I'm very very very afraid of what comes next... Because if you're dead and what's next is "nightmarish", you can't wake up in bed safe and sound anymore. It frightens and haunts me a lot. For some reason I can't imagine what comes next is going to be good.

Feeling fear of "what comes next" is fairly normal for most people, though I would suggest to anyone struggling with it that they may want to examine any beliefs they have behind that feeling. Tracing emotions or feelings back to their associated beliefs is a great way to sort out many personal impediments. Some might have been all but invisible prior, even.

I could tell you that you will 'survive' death and be in a place which feels far more real than this place. I could tell you many things beyond that. However, I find telling really doesn't do it for most (myself included). Best if one seeks their own answers. You'll be okay, friend.