Realityfrom

Realityfrom is a term used in philosophy of science, cognitive science, and information theory to describe the process by which observers derive what counts as reality from data, models, and context. The term merges "reality" with "from" to emphasize that what is taken as real is produced from, rather than simply passively observed in, observation and interpretation.

Origins and usage: The coinage is not tied to a single founder; it appears in varying forms across contemporary debates about measurement, inference, and constructivist accounts of science. It is used more as a heuristic than a formal theory.

Core ideas: Realityfrom asserts that perception and knowledge are constructive, and that statements about reality depend on what data are collected, what theories are applied, and what interpretive frameworks are adopted. Thus, "reality" is not a fixed given but a product of interaction among observers, instruments, and communities.

Applications: In philosophy of science, it clarifies how models shape phenomena. In human-computer interaction and VR, it helps describe how user experiences and perceived environments arise from interface design and data streams. In AI and data science, it highlights how training data and algorithms influence the representation of the external world.

Relation to other theories: It intersects with instrumentalism, constructive empiricism, and constructivism, while facing criticisms that it risks undermining objectivity or inviting excessive relativism. Proponents argue it provides a useful framework for analyzing how scientific claims are grounded in mediating practices.

See also: Constructivism, Instrumentalism, Constructive empiricism, Theory of perception.