Reality: Objective or Subjective?

Last week I used an outline provided by Bard the AI that listed what I called the Table of Contents for many of the popular philosophy books I have on my shelf written for a general audience.  By this I meant that Bard listed the key questions that philosophers have thought about and answered in different ways over the years (millennia), and which form the base of classic philosophy.  They are listed in the blog entry below, so I won't list them here again.  

When the group that joined our discussion group attempted to find a single topic to discuss, it was a struggle.  They are all important questions, and having them all sitting there, right in front of everyone, it was a bit overwhelming.   The thread of the conversation wandered over the mental landscape, rich with possibilities and dripping with low hanging fruit.  Who could possibly land on only one and be satisfied?  It reminded me of the classic sales conundrum: do you sell extensively (to many people, spending only a little time on each and playing the numbers game) or intensively (sell to only a few people, spending a lot of time to really get to know them and their needs)?  Clearly the list Bard provided welcomed the approach that required only the most casual contact with the ideas.

For this week's topic I have selected one topic, and just one, to delve into with more content and introspection.  What if we were to talk about the Nature of Reality in an intensive way?  Really dig into it, pull up examples of both the subjective and objective sides of the argument, and see if we can't find the flaws in the thinking that has come before?  Can it really be possible that this topic actually has 2 opposed perspectives that are mutually exclusive that cannot be disproved or definitively proved, one way or the other?  That sounds crazy!  We are talking about Reality here, something we deal with every day, all day long, with huge consequences in our lives, and we don't even know what it is?  How can that be?

Reality is Subjective:  Reality is determined by each of us and is defined by us.  What we think it is, it is.  It changes, and in fact, is always changing.

Reality is Objective:   Reality exists in a fundamental form that is separate from our perception of it.  Reality, in some way, is based on an ultimate and underlying Truth, immutable and permanent.

So, there are definitions of Reality that are as different as they can be, but both are viable and vehemently held by very deep thinkers, indeed.  Who is right?  Are they both right?

So I asked Bard (of course):

<Des>  What is the nature of reality?  Is it subjective, or ultimately objective?

<Bard>  The nature of reality is a question that has been debated by philosophers for centuries. There are two main schools of thought on this issue:

Subjectivism: Reality is subjective, meaning that it is created by the individual mind. This is the view that our perceptions of reality are filtered through our own personal experiences and biases, and that there is no one objective reality that everyone experiences in the same way.

Objectivism: Reality is objective, meaning that it exists independently of the individual mind. This is the view that there is a single, objective reality that everyone experiences in the same way, regardless of their personal experiences or biases.

There is no easy answer to the question of whether reality is subjective or objective. There is evidence to support both sides of the argument. For example, studies have shown that our perceptions of reality can be influenced by our emotions, our expectations, and our cultural background. However, there are also many things in the world that we all seem to experience in the same way, such as the laws of physics.

Ultimately, the question of whether reality is subjective or objective is a matter of personal belief. There is no scientific evidence that can definitively prove or disprove either side of the argument.

Here are some additional thoughts on the nature of reality:

Reality is not static. It is constantly changing and evolving.

Reality is not always what it seems. Our perceptions of reality can be distorted by our emotions, our expectations, and our cultural background.

Reality is not always objective. It can be influenced by our personal biases and experiences.

Reality is not always easy to understand. It can be complex and mysterious.

Despite all of these challenges, it is important to try to understand the nature of reality. This is because our understanding of reality shapes our thoughts, our actions, and our lives.