Reaalsus

Reaalsus is the concept that refers to the state of things as they actually exist, independent of personal perception or belief. In Estonian, reaalsus is used across philosophy, science, and everyday speech to denote objective existence, as opposed to illusion, fantasy, or rumor. The term is closely related to questions about what can be said to be real and how we can know it.

Realities can be distinguished by domain: physical reality includes matter, energy, and spacetime; mental reality comprises conscious experiences; social reality encompasses institutions, practices, and norms that are maintained collectively (for example money, laws, or organizational roles). These domains interact but are often analyzed with different methods and criteria.

Philosophical approaches to reaalsus include realism, which asserts that a mind-independent reality exists; anti-realism and constructivism, which hold that aspects of reality depend on concepts, language, or social practices; and scientific realism, which argues that scientific theories aim to describe true structures of the world. Other positions, such as instrumentalism or phenomenology, emphasize practical usefulness or experience over ontological commitment.

Knowledge of reality is pursued through perception, reason, and empirical investigation. Some traditions distinguish noumenal reality (things-in-themselves) from phenomena (things as they appear). In science, theories are judged by predictive success and coherence with evidence, though debates continue about the extent to which theories reveal true underlying reality or merely useful models.

The concept has practical implications in ethics, law, and everyday life, where social realities shape behavior and policy even if they are constructed or contingent. Understanding reaalsus involves distinguishing what is observable and measurable from what is interpretive or contingent. Related topics include realism, ontology, epistemology, and social constructionism.