Understanding Our Perception of Reality: Intuition Unraveled
Written on
Chapter 1: The End of Days
In the 1990s, a shocking news broadcast reached viewers in Portugal, claiming that the Earth would soon drift from its orbit and be consumed by the sun.
My parents remained surprisingly calm amidst the chaos. They reassured me that such apocalyptic predictions were not new and had historically turned out to be false alarms. "At least until now!" they joked, helping to ease my anxiety.
Although their words soothed me somewhat, I struggled to eat or sleep until the fateful day arrived. It turned out to be a beautiful summer day with a gentle breeze and clear skies—definitely no signs of impending doom. Earth continued its steadfast orbit.
A Thought Experiment
Later that day, while lounging in a hammock and enjoying yellow plums plucked from a nearby tree, I reflected on how easily I had fallen for that absurd news. This contemplation led me to ponder our existence in the vast universe.
I envisioned my garden, then zoomed out to my village, my country, Europe, the Earth, our solar system, galaxy clusters, and then... nothing. I found it hard to believe that this sequence would extend infinitely. Surely, there must be an endpoint?
To quell my bewilderment, I imagined a physical boundary surrounding the universe, with everything beyond it filled with concrete. Why? I couldn't say.
Without realizing it, I encountered what I believe to be one of our innate limitations in grasping reality. Some of these limitations are physical, while others stem from aspects we cannot change.
Section 1.1: The Limits of Hearing
Consider sound as a simple example. If you conduct an experiment with an older relative using your phone to play high-frequency sounds, you might find that they can no longer hear certain tones that you can. This change often occurs due to aging eardrums.
I tried this experiment with about ten people, and one older cousin became visibly upset when he couldn't hear sounds above a specific frequency. He thought we were playing tricks on him!
Even when we hear the same sounds, our brains interpret them differently. Some individuals experience synesthesia, where one sensory input triggers another. For example, hearing a sound might evoke a visual shape or a color.
This notion that we don't all experience the world in the same way is both unsettling and intriguing.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Complexity of Light
Light presents a similar challenge to our perception. We might agree on a color, yet our sensitivity to different wavelengths can lead to distinct experiences of that hue.
Moreover, consider tetrachromats—organisms with four types of cone cells in their eyes—compared to our three. They can perceive a broader spectrum of colors, seeing a complex array of reds while we see a more limited shade.
The Mantis Shrimp exemplifies this phenomenon, boasting an extraordinary ability to perceive colors.
We have long understood that our senses provide a limited interpretation of our surroundings. But what about the deeper limitations I mentioned earlier?
Chapter 2: Intuition and Reality
In this exploration, we will delve further into the profound aspects of our intuition and how it shapes our understanding of reality.
The first video, "Fear vs. Intuition — How to Know the Difference," examines how we can discern between genuine intuition and fear-based reactions.
The second video, "Reflections on Iain McGilchrist's The Matter with Things," offers insights into the intricate relationship between our perceptions and the world around us.