Transition from Ideologies and Politics To a World of Reality and Facts

By MG Paul E Vallely US Army (Ret)

It is finally time in 2025 with a new awakening to move away from past ideologies and partisan politics (parties) to a world of facts, cognitive solution processes and reality.

In political science, a political ideology is a certain set of ethical ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class or large group that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order. A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used. Some political parties follow a certain ideology very closely while others may take broad inspiration from a group of related ideologies without specifically embracing any one of them.

An ideology’s popularity is partly due to the influence of moral and financial entrepreneurs, who many times act in their own interests rather than the people’s interests. Political ideologies have two dimensions:

Goals: how society should be organized

Methods: the most appropriate way to achieve this goal.

Ideology is a collection of ideas that have evolved over the ages to dominate cultures, traditions and societies much to their destruction and manipulated for more power and control the populations. Typically, each ideology contains certain ideas on what it considers to be the best form of government (e.g. autocracy or democracy) and the best economic system (e.g. capitalism, communism and socialism). The same word is sometimes used to identify both an ideology and one of its main ideas.

For instance, socialism may refer to an economic system, or it may refer to an ideology that supports that economic system. The same term may also refer to multiple ideologies, which is why political scientists try to find consensus definitions for these terms.

For example, while the terms have been conflated at times, communism has come in common parlance and in academics to refer to Soviet-type regimes and Marxist–Leninist ideologies, whereas socialism has come to refer to a wider range of differing ideologies which are most often distinct from Marxism–Leninism. Political ideology is a term fraught with problems, having been called “the most elusive concept in the whole of social science”.

While ideologies tend to identify themselves by their position on the political spectrum (such as the left, the center or the right), they can be distinguished from political strategies (e.g. populism as it is commonly defined) and from single issues around which a party may be built (e.g. civil libertarianism and support or opposition to European integration), although either of these may or may not be central to a particular ideology. Several studies show that political ideology is heritable within families.

The following list is strictly alphabetical and attempts to divide the ideologies found in practical political life into several groups, with each group containing ideologies that are related to each other. The headers refer to the names of the best-known ideologies in each group.

The names of the headers do not necessarily imply some hierarchical order or that one ideology evolved out of the other. Instead, they are merely noting that the ideologies in question are practically, historically, and ideologically related to each other.

As such, one ideology can belong to several groups and there is sometimes considerable overlap between related ideologies. The meaning of a political label can also differ between countries and political parties often subscribe to a combination of ideologies.

Reality and truth are closely intertwined concepts, yet they have distinct characteristics. Reality refers to the state of things as they exist, encompassing all aspects of the physical world and the experiences within it. It is objective and independent of human perception or interpretation. On the other hand, truth relates to the accuracy or correctness of a statement or belief. It is subjective and can vary depending on individual perspectives and experiences. While reality is the actual state of affairs, truth is the correspondence between our understanding or representation of reality and the actual facts. In essence, reality is the foundation upon which truth is built, as truth seeks to align our understanding with the objective reality.

Reality and truth are two concepts that have intrigued philosophers, scientists, and thinkers throughout history. While they may seem synonymous at first glance, a closer examination reveals distinct attributes that set them apart. In this article, we will delve into the nature of reality and truth, exploring their characteristics, differences, and the intricate relationship between them.

Defining Reality – Reality refers to the state of things as they exist, independent of human perception or interpretation. It encompasses the physical world, including all objects, events, and phenomena. Reality is objective and external, existing regardless of our awareness or understanding of it. It is the realm of facts, governed by natural laws and principles that shape our experiences.

One key attribute of reality is its consistency. It remains constant and unchanging, providing a stable foundation for our existence. For example, the laws of gravity apply universally, ensuring that objects fall towards the Earth’s center. This consistency allows us to make predictions and understand cause-and-effect relationships in the world around us.

Furthermore, reality is often perceived through our senses. We rely on sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell to gather information about the external world. However, our senses are not infallible, and they can be influenced by various factors such as illusions, biases, or limitations. Despite these potential distortions, reality remains independent of our subjective experiences.

Understanding Truth

Truth, on the other hand, relates to the correspondence between our beliefs or statements and the actual state of reality. It is a subjective interpretation or representation of reality, influenced by our perceptions, knowledge, and experiences. Truth is often shaped by our individual perspectives, cultural backgrounds, and personal biases.

Truth is not an absolute concept but rather a human construct. It can vary from person to person, leading to different interpretations of the same reality. For instance, a painting may evoke different emotions and meanings for different individuals, reflecting their unique truths. This subjectivity highlights the malleability of truth and its dependence on personal context.

Moreover, truth is not always static. It can evolve as new information or evidence emerges, challenging previously held beliefs. Scientific discoveries, for example, often lead to paradigm shifts, altering our understanding of the world and reshaping our truths. This dynamic nature of truth emphasizes its connection to human cognition and the limitations of our knowledge.

The Relationship Between Reality and Truth

While reality and truth are distinct, they are intricately intertwined. Truth is our attempt to grasp and interpret reality, to make sense of the external world. It is a reflection of our understanding and perception of reality at a given moment in time. However, truth is always subject to revision and refinement as our knowledge expands.

Reality, on the other hand, remains constant and unaffected by our interpretations. It exists independently, providing the foundation upon which our truths are built. Our truths may be imperfect or incomplete, but they strive to align with the underlying reality. The pursuit of truth involves a continuous exploration and refinement of our understanding of reality.

It is important to note that truth can be influenced by subjective factors, such as emotions, biases, or cultural conditioning. These influences can distort our perception of reality, leading to subjective truths that may not accurately reflect the objective reality. Recognizing and challenging these biases is crucial in our quest for a more accurate understanding of the world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, reality and truth are distinct yet interconnected concepts. Reality represents the objective state of things, independent of human perception, while truth is our subjective interpretation of reality. Reality provides the foundation upon which our truths are built, and our pursuit of truth involves aligning our beliefs with the underlying reality. However, truth is influenced by subjective factors and can evolve over time. Understanding the attributes and relationship between reality and truth is essential for navigating the complexities of our existence and striving for a more accurate understanding of the world.

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