Is Philosophical Realism Demonstrably False?

Philosophical realism is the belief that the world exists independently of any individual's or construct's perception. Despite common objections, the notion that reality is self-sufficient and not contingent upon human perception is not only plausible but well-supported by both empirical evidence and evolutionary theory.

Challenging the Rejection of Philosophical Realism

One of the primary arguments against philosophical realism posits that it makes our perceptions seem mysteriously objective. The reason why perceived objects continue to exist even when not perceived has been left as a mystery. However, this is not necessarily the case.

Infants develop the perceptual cognition of object permanence very early in life. This is an essential component of our basic survival strategies. How would it be evolutionarily advantageous if an infant believed that objects vanished when they were no longer in visual range? This cognition enhances our ability to navigate and interact with the world. If object permanence were not a fundamental aspect of reality, these early human instincts and behaviors would not make sense.

Biological and Evolutionary Foundations of Realism

The rejection of philosophical realism often hinges on the idea that human perception, which can be unreliable, should not be used as a basis for inferring the existence of an external reality. However, this can be easily addressed by considering the biological function of sensory faculties and language.

Our sensory abilities are designed to extract factual information from our environment. It would not have been beneficial for humans to have unreliable perceptions because such unreliability could have undermined critical survival tasks such as finding food, avoiding predators, and coordinating with other members of the group.

Similarly, our language faculties are adapted to describe reality accurately, which enhances our ability to coordinate activities and function in social groups. In a hunter-gatherer society, the accuracy of descriptions is crucial. If a member of the group perceives a dangerous predator and conveys a false narrative, this misinformation could lead to the group's doom. Accurate descriptions of reality are necessary for survival and social cohesion.

Realist Theory of Truth

The realist theory of truth states that a statement is true if it designates a state of affairs that obtains, and false if it does not. In this context, the truth of a statement is tied to the existence of an independently real world. If a statement accurately describes a situation that exists in the external world, it is true; if not, it is false.

This view is further supported by our ability to predict future events. Astronomers can predict future astronomical events based on observations and models of the external universe. Without a belief in the independent existence of a real world, such predictions would be impossible.

Realism is thus not an obsolete or silly doctrine. Instead, it is a powerful and foundational concept that aligns with both biological adaptation and scientific understanding.

Keywords: philosophical realism, reality, perception