SEARCHING FOR REALITY

A PHILOSOPHIC EXPLORATION

You have noticed as have I the increased attention the titular subject is receiving in our society. I suppose this is nothing new, but it seems to me to be growing rapidly in our collective consciousness. There seems to be more need, more intensity in the demand to KNOW who, what, where and why we are.

This is a good thing. This search must incorporate both positive and negative considerations. It seems we are challenged to be objective and honest in this search in ways I’ve not previously seen in my 85 years.

I am changing. Too soon old, too late wise. Not saying I have achieved “wisdom”, but I can say I am closer to it than anytime in my life. It’s about time. An indicator of a little increase in wisdom is the growing awareness and acceptance of who I am, limitations and all, and as I just wrote today, I’m OK.

I’m OK, but also quite ignorant. I never in this life expect to have all the answers. I don’t want all the answers. Then life would be boring, absent the eternal quest for more knowledge. I have no worries. There is an eternity of new questions to be asked and new questions to be found, in this life and the next.

Regarding “reality” there are two essential categories, consensus reality and personal reality. Both have positive and negative characteristics.

Consensus reality allows for an organized, functional society. Laws can work, expectations can to some degree be achieved, order can be reasonably established…