Your Reality

Youn Mee Oh
ENGLISH 115
Professor Collins
November, 25, 2015.

Sometimes, there are moments where it is impossible to distinguish reality,

such as dream. Reality can be clear and obvious to some; however, it can be
ambiguous and confusing to others. Phenomenons like lucid dreaming, where you
are controlling your dream while being fully awake is a good debatable subject of
what is real or not. If someone is able to have a dream while being fully awake
inside the dream and do everything you want to do and feel everything you want to
feel, how can that be just a dream? Who ever defined reality to begin with? Those
questions are vague and cannot have correct answer to them. Philosopher named
Rene Descartes defined his reality where thoughts prove his existence, however,
reality will always remain unclear with such questions whether it is mental or
physical, because anything can be reality.In the boot Do Androids Dream of Electrc
Sheep, . A photographer Iturbide finds his reality in his photos. Individuals will live in
different realities than one another because, just like personality, human mind will
vary in what determines its reality.
For example, a photographer whose hobby is very artistic may consider
reality something else other than daily routine of waking up and going to work.
With the camera, you interpret reality. Photography is not truth. The photographer
interprets reality and above all, constructs his own reality according to his own

awareness or his own emotions (Iturbide). Iturbide considers reality as a

perspective of individual has on his/her life. This reality can bend into any emotional
and informative aspect one applies and receives from life events. Throughout her
life, Iturbide learned that her own reality should be determined by aspects of life.
This realization can come as different truth to individuals, some may see reality as
rational aspect rather than emotional, however, those all are ones reality. Reality
cannot be just one definite thing..
In the book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the main character Rick
uses this virtual reality device called empathy box. Although the virtual reality in
empathy box only happens in his head, he gets physically injured with a rock thrown
in empathy box. If reality were to be where body is physical, the empathy box can
be considered reality. However, Rick only views this box as a device to talk to a
religious figure Mercer. To Rick, empathy box is not reality. He decides that his
reality is where he puts his most thoughts on, the world where he hunts androids.
This is ironic since empathy boxs figure, Mercer, holds more casual conversation
with Rick that is common to humanity; however, his reality is where he hunts
humanoid androids. The fact that reality is different to individuals must be accepted
despite how odd one may be.
On another hand of Dicks literature, his society is full of humans that despise
the androids due to their fake humanity because humans believe that they are the
real humans and androids are just a disturbing replica of them. However, there are
no definite proof to prove that androids are unreal creatures. They exist and breath
same substance as humans and live through same routines as humans. Because
humanity feels like they are the ones who are living real lives, it cannot apply to
androids ,who are different species, that androids are unreal. In android aspect,

humanity may be the unreal ones while androids are the real humanity! The
perception of realism is only psychological and philosophical matter but not an
objective matter.

illusions of reality a digital image from fine art america

The image called illusions of reality contains an earth on the sky and pixel
looking human watching a television. The long swirled stairs is behind the wall that
is holding the television. This implements that a human watching television can be
all just digital and virtual experience. Whole set up of image is made through
computer where television is picturing a nature with creek running down inside.
Image creates irony where the pixel girl is staring into nature in a virtual world
without noticing anything else. This can imply that humans that are watching
televisions during the day can just be hallucinating their reality where nothing is

really real in their virtual world of television. The image also counters ideals such
as that reality is where body receives sensual feelings. The stairs that lead up to the
sky is behind the walls of television, indicating that the true freedom from pixel
world may be behind the walls of digital entertainment such as cellphones and
computers. Overall, the picture intrigues wonders of what reality should be.
Many say people who are in permanent coma are dead, because theyre not
conscious. Person has to be conscious to be in reality. However, great latin
philosopher once said I think, therefore I am (Descartes). Descartes heavily
debates on whether or not he exists due to demons deceiving his reality. After long,
psychological battle, Descartes comes to conclusion that he needs to exist in order
for demon to deceive his existence. This quote withholds strong recognition and
advocators around the world. When one decide something is his/her reality, that
thought will make it his/her reality. They, who are in eternal sleep may just be living
more vivid reality than anyone else. There will be no definite clarification on who is
living in which reality.
A knowledgeable journalist on a philosophy site once wrote, Each individual
own different reality. Is reality mental mind; or is it physical matter and energy?
If mind, is there a deeper consciousness underlying appearances that unites us all
and is the source of our conscious thoughts? If matter, can we understand how the
play of material objects and forces can give rise to conscious life?(Studen). Studen,
himself wonders upon clarity of reality. He splits his ideas into two situations where
mind can be mentality or physicality. Either of this theory can be true to different
people. To people whose bodies are in coma and only their mind awake, mentality
will be their reality. The head is only thing they feel and think with and the head is
only thing that decides reality.

Renown Oxford dictionary defines reality as the world or the state of things
as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. In terms
of that definition, androids in Philip K. Dicks piece are also truly real. But reality
isnt just a two sided paper. There may be as many realities as number of humanity
on the earth because sense of reality varies on people such as Iturbide having
photographic reality. If someone told you youre dream is your real life, will you
believe it? Maybe so, but maybe not. That is because, reality is wholeheartedly
depended upon individuals decision. Debating upon sense of reality is almost
superfluous because there is no definite answer. Whatever you decide your
existence belongs will be your reality.

Literature Cited:

Iturbide, Graciela. "Interpreting Reality." World Literature Today, 87.2 (2013): 118121.

"Definition of Reality in English:." Reality: Definition of Reality in Oxford Dictionary

(American English) (US). Oxford, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.

Dick, Philip K., and Philip K. Dick. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? New York:
Ballantine, 1996. Print.

"Rene Descartes: 'I Think Therefore I Am'" Rene Descartes. The Great Books Volume, n.d.
Web. 26 Nov. 2015.

Shadowlee. "Illusions of Reality." Fine Art America. Fine Art America, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2015.

Studen, Greg. "What Is the Nature of Reality?" Philosophy Now. Philosophy Now, n.d.
Web. 27 Nov. 2015.