theories of reality

Theories of reality explore what fundamentally exists. Materialism suggests everything is physical—particles and energy. Idealism proposes that consciousness or mind is primary, and physical things depend on it. Dualism sees both mind and matter as real and distinct. Phenomena like accessible experiences challenge these views, leading to theories like physicalism, which claims consciousness arises from brain activity, or panpsychism, suggesting consciousness is a fundamental aspect of all matter. These theories aim to understand the nature of existence, how we perceive it, and whether reality is independent of our perception or interconnected with consciousness.