What Is Naive Realism, Why Is It Important, and How Does It Impact the Way We Live?
What Is Naive Realism, Why Is It Important, and How Does It Impact the Way We Live?
Is it a Form of the Post-Truth Era?
“We all start from “naive realism,” i.e., the doctrine that things
are what they seem. We think that grass is green, that stones
are hard, and that snow is cold. But physics assures us that the
greenness of grass, the hardness of stones, and the coldness of
snow are not the greenness of grass, the hardness of stones, and
the coldness of snow that we know in our own experience, but
something very different.” — Bertrand Russell
We are often fooled by reality because we are too naive to see the truth. Our minds are so gullible that it sees what it wants to see and not what is there.
It is also because our brain tends to want to make sense of things, even if they don’t make sense.
What is Naive Realism?
Naive Realism is the idea that people perceive things as they are.
The belief that people have direct access to reality and our senses gives us an accurate representation of what is out there. Naïve Realism is a concept in philosophy that argues that we can perceive reality as it is without any bias or distortion.
The term Naïve Realism was coined by George Berkeley in 1710 when he published his work “A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge.”
In this work, he stated that all we see or feel are ideas in our minds. He argued that these ideas might seem outside of us, but they are not. His main point was that we could not trust our senses because they couldn’t tell us anything about reality.
One of the arguments against Naive Realism comes from the idea that humans have cognitive biases which can distort their perception of reality.
Another argument against Naive Realism comes from the theory of relativity, which states that our perception of space and time are not objective realities but creations of our minds.
What is Empiricism?
Empiricism is the philosophy that the only source of knowledge is experience.
It is the idea that we learn through our senses. This means our world understanding is based on what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch.
The English philosopher John Locke was one of the first empiricists. He argued that we are born with a blank slate (or tabula rasa) and that our experiences fill it up. He also said that our ideas come from two sources: sensation and reflection.
Sensation is when we receive information through our senses, and reflection is when we think about what we have experienced.
How do these two philosophies relate to each other?
Naive Realism and empiricism are closely related because they both deal with the idea of how we understand the world. Naive Realism is the belief that we perceive things as they are, while empiricism is the philosophy we learn through our experiences.
However, there is a crucial difference between these two philosophies.
Naive Realism suggests that our senses provide us with an accurate representation of reality. At the same time, empiricism states that our understanding of the world is based on our experiences.
This means that naive Realism relies on our senses to tell us what is real, while empiricism does not.
“The chief vestige of subjectivity is the fallacy that everybody else also cares about the same things as the observer, and/or lives in his/her exact same state of mind” — Stephan Attia
What are the implications of these two philosophies?
The implications of these two philosophies are far-reaching. They affect how we view reality and the world around us.
If we believe in Naive Realism, we think that our senses are reliable and can trust them to tell us what is real. But, if we embrace empiricism, we must accept that our understanding of the world is based on our experiences.
This means we can never be sure that what we see is reality. It also means that our beliefs and opinions may change with new experiences.
These two philosophies also have implications for how we view knowledge.
Naive Realism suggests that knowledge is something that we can access directly. At the same time, empiricism states that knowledge is something we learn through experiences.
Is Naive Realism a Form of Post-Truth Era?
In the post-truth era, where fake news is more common than facts and people believe what they want to think, the naive realism theory is a form of the post-truth era.
It is a theory that believes that people can see what they want to see in reality and that there are no limits to how much they can change their perceptions of it. This means that people are not limited by what they see but by what they think should be there.
Naive Realism is a theory that has been around for centuries. Still, it is only now being used to explain the post-truth era.
This is because the theory suggests that people can choose to believe whatever they want, regardless of evidence or facts.
In the post-truth era, people are more likely to believe fake news if it supports their worldview. This is because they can use their personal biases to interpret what they see in reality.
Naive Realism is a dangerous form of post-truth because it allows people to rationalize away any information that contradicts their beliefs.
This means they can continue to hold onto false beliefs even when presented with evidence disproving them.
What are some examples of Naive Realism?
Some examples of Naive Realism can be seen in how people interpret events they see on the news. For instance, if someone sees a news story about a terrorist attack, they might interpret it differently depending on their personal biases.
A person against immigration might interpret it as proof that all immigrants are dangerous. A pro-gun person might interpret it as proof that gun control laws are useless.
Naive Realism can also be seen in how people react to information that contradicts their beliefs. For example, if someone believes global warming isn’t happening, they will likely reject any evidence that disproves this belief. This is because they use their own biases to interpret what they see.
What are the dangers of Naive Realism?
The dangers of Naive Realism are far-reaching. They can lead to people holding onto false beliefs, even when presented with evidence that disproves them. This can have dangerous consequences, especially in the post-truth era.
Naive Realism can also lead people to interpret information in a way that suits their biases. This means that they might only pay attention to information that supports their worldview and ignore anything that contradicts it. This can lead to people making bad decisions based on false information.
Finally, Naive Realism can lead to conflicts between people with different interpretations of reality. This is because people use their own biases to interpret what they see. This can lead to arguments and even violence.
How can we avoid the dangers of Naive Realism?
We must be aware of the theory and how it can impact our interpretation of reality.
We need to be critical of the information we consume. This means looking at both sides of an argument and considering all the evidence, not the evidence that supports our beliefs.
We must be open-minded and willing to change our thoughts if presented with new evidence.
The Rise of Reality Denial
Reality denial is a new form of mental disorder triggered by the advent of the internet. Reality denial is a phenomenon in which people cannot differentiate between reality and fiction.
It is caused by excessive time spent on social media and other digital media, which have led to people being unable to distinguish between what is real and what isn’t.
The rise of reality denial can have severe consequences for those who suffer from it and society as a whole. It can cause people to lose touch with reality, leading them to believe that their delusions are real.
This may lead them to make decisions that could endanger themselves or others — such as refusing medical treatment because they believe they’re immune to illness or refusing food because they think they don’t need it.
Reality denial can also lead to social isolation, anxiety, and depression. People who suffer from reality denial may find it difficult to interact with others, as they cannot distinguish between what is real and what isn’t. This can lead them to become withdrawn and anxious, which can further exacerbate their condition.
The rise of reality denial is a relatively new phenomenon, and we are only beginning to understand its causes and consequences.
However, it can have severe implications for those who suffer from it and society as a whole. We must raise awareness of this condition and help those suffering from it get the support they need.
Do You Live by the Principles of Naive Realism?
The naive realist believes that there is a single, objective reality. This is the reality that we see and experience in our everyday life.
Naive Realism is the view of a physical world existing independently of human minds and that this world can be studied and understood without any reference to human consciousness.
We are all naive realists in one way or another because we sometimes believe in a single, objective reality. This is the reality that we see and experience in our everyday life.
Naive Realism is crucial because it allows us to understand and study the world. It also allows us to communicate with others, as we can all share our actual experiences.
Yet, there are some problems with naive Realism.
Firstly, it assumes that everything is knowable and understandable. This is not always the case — sometimes, things happen that we cannot explain or understand.
Secondly, it assumes that reality is static and unchanging. However, the reality is constantly changing — what was true yesterday may not be true today.
Finally, Naive Realism ignores the role of human consciousness in shaping our understanding of reality. Our beliefs, values, and experiences shape our perceptions of reality.
Despite its problems, Naive Realism is the view of reality we all hold.
We must be aware of its limitations. Still, it is also important to remember that it is the foundation upon which our understanding of the world is built.
Without Naive Realism, we would be lost in a sea of subjectivity, unable to communicate or make sense of our experiences.
So, which philosophy do you think is more accurate?
Do you believe that our senses give us a precise representation of reality? Or do you think our world understanding is based on our experiences?
There is no right or wrong answer to these questions. It all depends on what you believe.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
FEATURED TWEETS
YouTube | Twitter | Instagram | Support me/Follow me on other platforms
© Alejandro Betancourt, 2022. All Rights Reserved.