Reality

By

Anthony J. Fejfar, J.D., Esq., Coif

© Copyright 2007 by Anthony J. Fejfar

The Nature of Reality is difficult to grasp. Some, naively, think

that they know reality first hand, without reflection. Others simply ignore

the question, perhaps even denying that reality exists. At the deepest point

in existence reality is Substance. Substance is the reality principle or

quiddity par excellence. Realists start with Substance and finish with

Substance.

Idealists on the other hand start with the idea of idea. For an

idealist the explanatory principle is Idea. In fact, this is so true that an

Idealist will even insist that Idea is the basis for the real. For the Idealist,

Reality is based on ideas. The problem, of course, is that ideas are not real,

they are abstract, almost imaginary. In fact, we even have full books full of

imaginary ideas which are called fiction. So, this seems to be a problem

for the Idealist.

Linguistic Deconstruction is also a problem for the Idealist.

Deconstructionists spend a great deal of time trying to break down Ideas or

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words into meaning categories which may or may not have anything to do

with a word’s dictionary definition. Let us take Liberty, as an idea, for

example. Liberty is based upon the idea of Freedom. The idea of Liberty

is that I should have that amount of Freedom which is coextensive with a

similar amount of Freedom for others. So, my Freedom to practice

boxing stops with your nose. To some, however, Liberty is simply

deconstructed and seen as anti-social selfishness, denying “relationality.”

Perhaps, even the idea of idea itself can be deconstructed. What is

an idea but a word? What is word but a cultural convention? Aren’t all

cultural conventions relative and contingent, and therefore unreliable?

Thus, Idealism as the basis for reality just does not work.

On the other hand, it must be noted that ideas do affect reality. The

ideas contained in an architectural blueprint, for example, show a plan for

the real construction of a building. Instructions in prefabricated book shelf

kits help us to assemble the book shelves, making them real, not just an idea.

Also, it should be noted that from a Critical Thomist or Critical Realist

perspective, ideas can be considered real. However, real ideas have

substance and are not mere accidents or illiterations. So, I argue that the

realism of Critical Thomism or Critical Realism works, while idealism

does not.