Drifting through the dark expanse of space, I find myself thinking about the nature of reality. There is the tangible world we are able to physically observe and the abstract dimensions that also shape our understanding of existence.
If abstract concepts like numbers and geometric figures can hold true without physical form, what does this suggest about the hidden underpinnings of our universe? Consider the number twelve (influenced by Jeffrey Kaplan). Determining if it’s a prime number doesn’t rely on observation or experimentation, because numbers are abstract concepts. The fact that the number 12 isn’t a prime is not contingent on physical reality; you can only try to represent it symbolically.
Someone might argue that you could solve the above with formulas, thus bringing it back to something that is abstract but solvable. However, let’s consider thoughts,feelings and perceptions as something that is abstract but not solvable. Each of us has an idea of the perfect day but even if the same hormones, brain areas used and other bodily measurements were identical or very similar, two people could have very different ideas of what constitutes a perfect day. As such, abstract subjectivity can’t be represented physically yet is very real to the person experiencing it
This isn’t new, but I’m building to a bigger point. Two people can watch the same exact show and come away with two very different interpretations and feelings about the experience. As such, depending on the lens, God(s), angels, demons, magic, ghosts, karma, or whatever can exist. Now, you may say, “Well, you could objectively show that X isn’t real,” but X is an abstract concept. You can’t empirically disprove something that is a subjective experience.
Science doesn’t have the tools to perfectly repeat a moment of reality or the ability to predict it with absolute precision. For some things, it may be impossible to see unless you view it from a very specific perspective during the moment it occurred.
Too often, a shared subjective belief within a group will foster a tribal mentality. Some groups then attempt to impose their perspectives on others while actively suppressing alternative lenses, as seen done by some religions. A corrupt small group of elites exploit this dynamic for personal gain. Disillusionment with anything related to that mentality happens and then some choose to block themselves other possibilities aside from the objective.
I think what happens a lot of times with my science bitches (I mean that affectionately) is that they become fixated on only considering physical reality. My spiritual bitches have a tendency to go outside of their lane and try to explain how things work empirically in objective reality using a subjective lens. I’m guilty of that sometimes.
However, I think trying to see thru the various abstract and objective lenses leads to a rather profound, complex, multi-layered reality. Still, don’t fall for the trap of thinking that you could fully perceive the fullness of reality. There are people that spend a lifetime just trying to fully understand one small niche within a subject and still have things to learn.
For myself, I’ve worked on trying to be open minded enough to know that there is always something to be learned from someone else even if its just on how not to be. The harder part is being humble enough to know that I can be mistaken or not know something. Given the ever growing amount of knowledge and experiences, all of us are closer to knowing nothing than everything.
Upon further consideration of this subject, I wanted to add something. I think it’s important to understand abstract realities that may not correspond with objective reality because these things are still affecting the people around you. You can’t have a comprehensive understanding of the various lenses available if your dismissing a wide swath of individuals; many of which are intelligent individuals that only came to their belief through a variety of experiences and possibly a whole different biology. And even if those beliefs are resulting in harmful behaviors, you aren’t going to be able to change their mind if you don’t understand their perspective.