Perception and Reality in the Modern Era

In the course of human evolution, when the human brain (mind) reached that level of neuronal complexity in which self-consciousness became a reality, that change irrevocably altered humanity’s future.  From that moment on, the reality of the external environment delivered to the brain from the senses was overlayed by how that environment was perceived, for human evolution had given birth to the individual.

Currently, on planet earth, human evolution has been so successful that there are now over eight billion individuals – each one carrying a unique view of their surroundings and their place within it.  Each one of us moves through our existence with our own complex array of conclusions regarding ourselves, our ideas, our beliefs, our thought patterns, our habits.  We are shaped by our upbringing, by our cultural influences, by our language, by our life experiences, by our inheritance.

An individual’s perception of reality may or may not necessarily coincide with reality.  In the modern era, the raid growth of science fueled by technological advances and sustained by the scientific method, has been the gateway to reality.  The scientific method has proven to be a highly effective process in uncovering how things work - human curiosity being the driving force for understanding the nature of existence.

The creation of the Internet (1950’s) represents one of those historic inflection points that has led to revolutionary changes on many levels similar to the discovery of DNA (1954) as the molecular entity responsible the transferal of hereditary information, the deciphering of the universal genetic code uncovered between 1961 and 1966, and the complete sequencing of the human genome (2003).

The accessibility of the Internet has led to nearly instantaneous access to a prodigious amount of information freely available worldwide.  It has also brought into fruition with what is referred to as, “social media,” and, more recently the development of artificial intelligence (AI).  The positive aspects of these capabilities are enormous in both scope and application.

However, the caveat that is of immediate concern is the purposeful global transmission of misinformation, falsehoods, and fraudulent data.  This burgeoning development has led to an alarming increase in social and political divisiveness and unrest.  Intentionally misleading susceptible readers by creating false perceptions that do not coincide with truth has become a well-used strategy that has dangerous implications.

In my thinking this new reality can be effectively countered by instituting sound educational policies that encourage and reinforce reasoned and rational skepticism as a way to discern the truth and expose what is patently false.