Is society an illusion?
-
It could be
Many of the things that are part of our everyday existence only work because we all have come to the consensus that they do. Roads and highways remain (more or less) effective because we agree to follow the basic rules of the road. One rogue driver, and chaos ensues.
Even our economy, with our money no longer backed by something solid, goes on because we believe it does. What's a dollar worth? We can give its relative worth compared to other currencies, but that isn't anything real. A dollar is worth what someone will give for it. It's not worth anything but what we agree it's worth.
In fact, the only way you can read and understand this is because as a society we have come to a consensus that certain words correspond with certain ideas.
What is society besides a collection of beliefs, assumptions, and agreements that a large group of people have accepted.
The greatest societies in the world eventually fall away. Rome, Greece, Ancient China, all these fantastic civilizations fall away and dissapear from earth, except in our memories. The past doesn't exist. That's part of it's very nature. The "past" is simply our collective memories. If all "remembered" that the first car was invented by Ronald McDonald, who could say otherwise? Society by its very nature places those who disagree with public consensus in the realm of the insane. Even the insane do this. What a crazy person sees is 'real' and whatever contradicts that reality is 'false.'
So who can say with absolute conviction that what they see is the true reality? There was a chinese philosopher who said that when one is dreaming, one is (more often than not) unaware that one is dreaming. The things which one is presented look and feel and seem 100% real. If I dream I'm a butterfly, and am completely unaware of any other existence except my life as a butterfly, then when I wake, how can I be sure I am a man who dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he is a man?
Society relies on the fact that we take things at more or less face value. Things are what they are. The street exists, these words exist, your computer exists. To think otherwise would be crazy. But how can we be sure we are sane?
To do so, we look at the ideas, opinions, and actions of others. And by a sort of existential democracy, we decide that the majority rule is reality.
So society (and our existence in general) falls under question. Are we sane people living in a ordered society, or are we insane people creating a world of order in our minds, because we cannot deal with random chaos?
Voted for by Johnny Horrorshow.
-
no
An illusion is utopia. A perfect world that provides happiness and peace for all and has everything that everybody needs. Our society is far from a utopia, and only because we had made our way in it. Issues such as illness, poverty, and global warming surround the minds of people who care, and people overcome by glutteny and wealth devote their minds to the fear of losing this luxury. Our lives revolve mainly around fear, and utopia is supposed to be rid of pain fear and sadness. Therefore, if I have the idea correct, our society is not an illusion, it is cold, it is bitter, it is felt, and our eyes are open to take in the horror of it, and our senses are there to accept it.
Voted for by Olinda.
None of the choices fit your opinion? Add one →
|
Adding your reply:
Registration is required because of issues with spam. It is fast and free! This author would LOVE to get a comment from you, please join!
TeChNoWC
August 13
Edit | Reply
An interesting thought.
Your posts delves into many issues surrounding the philosophy behind our social structures.
In as much that you question society being an illusion, it seemingly is not. It still exists as a construct of reality on a 'near' metaphysical plane, but still seemingly exists.
August 14
Edit | Reply
And that's kind of my point. Society certainly SEEMS real, we cannot doubt that. But how can we be sure?
August 16
Edit | Reply
delayedscreening
September 21
Edit | Reply
how can we be sure?
SEEMS as though you did actually write that.....i SEEMED to have laughed.
i am a brash person, so forgive the asshole comment above.
here's the reason for my posting this:
some of us don't care to produce proof for those who demand it. not everything should be thrown into question. we have a limited amount of energy and passion requires a good field to run in....
this is an interesting observation and elaboration you have written. but it is comprised of many factors associated with or manifested from the long standing establishment that is 'society'. facts and simple identification are adorned with clumsy emphisis.... the message is muttled in your translation....
what's the true topic of your smart little write?
it is intelligent, but misnomed.
'the effects of man's ego and identity within the social structure'?
'the illusion of social equality in the marketplace of man'?
these are viable options, as well as spin-off's from the original topic......
November 20
Edit | Reply
impressive i would like to here more from you.
I agree with everything but u say are we sane or insane? I believe that there is no such thing as insane i believe that there is only sane and that who we consider insane are actually sane. We believe all these things as you said because we all agree on them from mainly physical evidence and passed on information. The phyisical evidence might not exist and second thing about the physical evidence is that it is in its nature misleading. Then about the passed on information, well we all know how many liars are out there and then second for that topic we all know how the grapevine system turns out. So if this is how we understand sane then there must only be insane because we have no evidence that it is 100 percent and is that it is also constant. Dont take this 100 percent seriously but critizise please i need it.Please register or login to comment! It's totally free