The Illusion of Reality: How Our Senses Limit Our Perception

Human perception of reality is often confined to the limitations of our senses, which cannot fully grasp the true nature of the world. Do we, therefore, live in a realm where our perception of reality is merely a shadow?

Why Go So Far: Understanding Sensory Limitations

Our senses provide us with a limited view of the world. Have you ever tried to perceive infrared or visualize microscopic entities with just your naked eye? These tasks are difficult, if not impossible, due to the limitations of our senses.

Yet, one might ask, 'Can you see your own eyes without a mirror?' The answer is yes, and it emphasizes a fundamental truth: what we perceive with our senses is an illusion, a mere reflection, of the true reality.

This conundrum leads us to question how we can understand the world around us when our inner perception is so limited.

Perception and Survival

Our senses allow us to perceive only a tiny fraction of reality, but this is necessary for survival and the exploitation of opportunities. What lies outside us is real, but what we perceive inside us is a replica, a simulation, of that reality.

In physics, for example, reality is described by four fundamental forces interacting via fields to generate all phenomena. These forces often behave in abstract and surprising ways, leading us to question the very nature of reality.

One of the great physicists, Niels Bohr, once said, 'Reality is made of things which can’t possibly be real.' This statement is a misinterpretation. Forces are indeed real, and it is they that make up the fundamental fabric of reality.

Inner Senses and Subjectivity

There is much more to reality than what our outer senses perceive. Inner senses, such as emotions, thoughts, and feelings, are largely ignored by science, which tends to focus on measurable, objective phenomena.

Science's bias towards measurable outer perception is a significant mistake, as inner senses play a crucial role in shaping our subjective reality.

The ancients were correct when they stated that our feeble senses perceive reality as a shadow on the wall of a cave. This metaphor highlights the limitations of our perception and the need for tools to enhance our understanding.

Conclusion

While our senses provide us with valuable information, they are limited by our physical capabilities. Understanding the nature of reality requires us to look beyond our sensory limitations and embrace a more holistic view of the world. The key to this understanding lies in recognizing the significance of both outer and inner senses in forming our perception of reality.