I do wonder about where humanity is going and it something which I probably have thought about since childhood. The last few years have raised so much query about the climate and ecology. The pandemic has raised questions about the stability of many cultures as well.

I find it hard to imagine what is going to happen exactly because life is becoming unpredictable. A year ago we would not have imagined that life would have been turned upside down as it has been. But while it is hard to predict, I think that it is about the most important topic for philosophy but perhaps many just flee from the intensity.

I think that it was great that the topic popped into this thread last night and probably took many by surprise. However, I would imagine that the topic won't really be discussed properly here. It is becoming a great long thread, with a jumble of ideas. One possible are for the discussion is in the matter could be in the thread I have going on disasters and where are we going? It is probably not the most popular thread but there were a certain amount of partakers in the discussion. Alternatively, one of you might wish to start a new thread if you think that you might catch a new audience.

I am taking it as an obvious standard rule that we can quote others, because that applies to all writing, including academic writing. I would be The only one particular unsolved puzzle of all times is whether Shakespeare was the real author of all his works.

I generally like to keep thread discussion as open as possible but I would welcome any suggestions for specifics. I created this thread about 6 weeks ago and it feels more like 6 months ago. I have written lots, but at the moment this one seems to risen again. Unlike some threads which I thought about quite a bit, I wrote this really spontaneously, so I am inclined to the idea of keeping it as open as possible in the spirit of creativity.

I see that this is your first post on the site, so I hope that you find some interesting discussions. I have been thinking about the issue of ideas since the comment made previous to yours. What I have been thinking is about is how both Plato and Kant saw ideas as part of the objective sphere. Their theory of knowledge was based on the belief that knowledge and ideas exist independently of us, and we are able to discover them.

Yes, it is also interesting to wonder about how inventions are out there in an objective realm waiting to be discovered. I have been engaged with others on a couple of other threads about the process of creativity in the arts. In thinking about this we can ask about whether, for example, the pictures of Salvador Dali or novels of James Joyce were based on an objective realm of ideas awaiting discovery.

This is also an exciting area of thought because it leads us into the direction of how do we find knowledge ourselves? Kant thought it was discoverable, by the principle of reason. I am sure that many think of other means of finding ideas, including psychedelic experimentation. These could be seen as the two extreme approaches as searching for ideas awaiting to be found. At the moment, the world is in need of some outstanding ideas. I am almost starting to think of someone out in the wilderness reaching out for ideas like Moses grasping the ten commandments amidst burning bushes.

It is almost midday and I have not got out of bed yet because I haven't recovered from reading about the recent banning.

I read the news of the banning when I got up in the middle of the night and was so shocked because RL was the star of the show at the moment. It was disappointing that some of her writings were not her own.I just can't think why she used others writings. She did put a couple of replies to me on the threads I wrote and I would presume these were written by her because they seemed in response to me. They were well written and I would have imagined that she aa a person could have written plenty herself, so it just seems a shame that she felt the need to use others writings instead.

But 3 bannings in less than a week is very dramatic. It is all starting to become like a reality TV show, but perhaps it is because of all the lockdowns. Also, in another thread before the latest banning, Gus Lamarch said that what is happening here on the forum is asymptomatic of fragmentation in the world.

This is a fairly old thread in the sense that I have probably started about five since this one.

However, I am interested by your claim that every idea thought by mankind had existed already. If you mean it is based on some instinct, I am not sure that would make sense in the way that I am thinking of ideas. That is because I am thinking of them in a philosophical sense. For example, the ideas of psychoanalysis, postmodernism, the existential, holistic or phenomenological.

Of course, I realise that I am talking of the naming of ideas and that the actual content of ideas goes beyond the surface of mere naming. I can understand that some ideas are discovered by all different cultures independently, such as the idea of time or the idea of religion. In this respect, such ideas could be seen as archetypal. Is that what you mean?

Basic ideas could be seen as existing in that way. but surely, is it certain individual human beings who have developed the specific ideas, such as the philosophical theories or critiques, as we know them.

Perhaps people are worried really and that makes them avoidant. I guess we all use escape mechanisms. Sometimes I start to write posts and begin to alter them because I think they are going to be grim to read. I also fluctuate in terms of how pessimistic or optimistic I feel about what is going on.

You frame the whole picture well in its historical context too. I suppose we also see the picture differently based on where we are based geographically and what portrayals we are given in the media.

But it does indeed seem that so much is fragmenting and that is why you were able to slot it into this thread. Anyway, I will log off and go to bed now, so goodnight and I hope that people take an interest in what you have written.

What you are saying is very important. I am glad that you have placed it here because at least it cannot be ignored. I have been trying to engage in discussion about the present state of of the world, during the last week, but I don't think many people are interested. So, I hope that a lot of people read and take on board what you are saying.

What kind of world are you living in if you cannot see the deep chaos into which humanity is descending?

I am rather horrified by the way in which so many people seem to expect arts for free. I have friends who do not buy music at all and seem to think that I am ridiculous in paying for it. I also hear people grumble if the books in charity shops are not as cheap as in another shop, being over fifty pence or a pound. I often point out that why should they expect to get it for almost nothing, considering all the work that it must have taken.They usually laugh at what I am saying.

But I will confess that I have downloaded many books on my Kindle. I have managed to get so many of the classics free, and a lot of the authors are not living ones. I have also got a lot of new indie authors books or samples, and it is unlikely that I would have bought all these without having heard or read about them.

But I am deeply disturbed by the way people seem to object to having to pay for the arts. When I have conversed with some others who seem to think that I waste my money in this ways, they have gone as far as to suggest that artists should not expect to make their money and do jobs and do art as an extra. So I am left wondering how do we change a culture which expects the arts as a free extra?

It is probably evident that I am a bit of a music addict and I do listen to goth music a fair amount, ranging from the Cult, Bauhaus, the Cure, the Mission and even a bit of industrial, including the Nine Inch Nails. I know you say that are not a big music listener.

I like to explore the arts as widely as possible and in many genres.

I haven't replied to you because I didn't want to break up the discussion you were having about art installation you were having about with Possibility.

But coming from a different angle, what do you think about the whole issue of aesthetics in works of literature? I am a fan of gothic fiction which challenges certain norms, as well as traditions such as cyberpunk. I would say that I like being guided into alternative ways of seeing and this really gives me a lot to think about.

I would say that unity is central to the whole question of survival of humanity, especially the battle against the pandemic. However, as someone said to me in April, the difference of the situation is opposite to the the 2nd World war because that brought people together as a community and people are being told to isolate.

Obviously, you are speaking of unity on a deeper level. However, I do think that this may be the tricky part. This is because we are being isolated and it makes it harder to reach out to others in many ways. But perhaps this does give plenty of time for reflection. I do agree with you that we are definitely seeing signs of people going beyond selfish concerns. Let's hope that this is the beginning of better thinking and positive direction.

I am not sure that theism is at the centre of the debate because it is likely that the policy makers come from many angles of belief. Also, from my understanding of the views expressed by many of that these vary so much. I think that it would be far too simplistic to split the opinions and arguments into being a matter of a theistic or atheist perspective.

Also, I am not sure what you would recommend by a utilitarian approach. I would say that there are competing views on morality and if the utilitarian one had been applied strictly there would be great dangers. It could, taken to the extreme, been about just ignoring the elderly and the vulnerable. The idea of the good of the greatest number is a limited moral yardstick.

Personally, I don't see the appeal of some very abstract art or installations which are displayed under guises such as postmodernism. But, of course, some people do think highly of this and that is where subjectivity comes in.

But, when I speak of the sacred in art I would certainly not be thinking of replicating the sacred art from past ages. I am thinking of capturing states of higher consciousness, which for want of a better term I will call 'enlightenment.' I am asking about this possibility and about mythic truth. Please also note that I am not just talking about visual art but all others, including literature. Perhaps many of the greatest writers ranging from Dante, Herman Hesse, Dosteovsky, to name a mere few managed to capture certain states of consciousness. I would say that the arts, including the visual can express so much of the deepest, innermost truths. What do you think about this?

I do like your comment. It is a problem that art has often fallen into the hands of corporations. When I was leaving school I did consider going on to study graphic art. But the idea that it may end up leading to designing baked bean can wrappers deterred me. Even Andy Warhol's soup cans don't really inspire me. But now, I would say that so many would be queuing up for a supermarket to stack cans of baked bean tins onto the shelves.

But the tension does remain between art as a pursuit for its value and the whole system of earning a living. Some people who are extremely successful make a lot of money, but they are the minority and often have to look to the sphere of popularity and commercialism? Most people I know who try to make money through various arts cannot make enough money to live and have to have another job, or be topped up with benefits. So, where does that leave most people wanting to pursue the arts? Does it end having to be just a hobby'

I think that you are coming mainly from the point of view of realistic art, which for many might be seen as replication. I do have experience of making art which is realistic although I was wishing to give added depth rather than simply copying.

However, you seem to be advocating conventional aesthetics insofar as you speak of portraying handsome men and beautiful women. I have never just wished to depict the people who are the best looking. I often drew people who were 'different', including people from various subcultures, such as punks and even drunk, down'n'out people sitting on park benches. I found these were interesting to draw and what I found was it could be stark to portray them in beautiful settings, such as the park or near architecturally decorated buildings. Perhaps this is the level of paradox applied to art.

You seem puzzled by how I seem to think that the whole mention of the sacred and profane applies to the arts. I would point to the whole history of religious paintings, stained glass windows and art work in other religions, especially Hinduism. The art of Hinduism is particularly interesting because it involves the many aspects of the gods, including Shiva and Kali. But even traditional Christianity did portray the diabolical as well, as conveyed by the images of gargoyles.

But, above all else, I do believe that the arts and making it involve moving into different states of consciousness. I know that you are more of a mathematician than an artist. I do not enjoy maths but I am wondering if you find maths can change consciousness and here I am wondering about the experience of the transcendent truths?.

I am not sure what you would consider to be 'the productive life.' My own would be one of making art and writing. If you consider the sixties music as the theatre of the absurd what do you make of new wave, indie, hip hop etc?

You speak of the importance of music that could be helpful before going to a job interview or being diagnosed with terminal cancer. These are vastly different and I have been in the situation of going for interviews. I remember playing an album by the band Weezer before one and it helped, but music is subjective.

The question of what music one would play if one was terminally I'll is interesting. I am sure it is subjective as well. You speak of no music for living a 'meaningful life despite terminal cancer'. I think it would be mistaken to project all expected on to music. I think if I was told that I was terminally ill I might find the music of U2 to be helpful, such as The Joshua Tree. The biggest challenge would be not to retreat to bed but to continue an active life. But I am sure different people would have different challenges and music might not be the biggest concern.

But the main thought which I am having while writing this is that while I love to listen to music that I don't just want to indulge in this too much as a passive observer, as a victim of consumerism. I don't make music but I want to be creating art of my own.

You say that I have not answered your questions. I am not sure what they were exactly because it is hard to find them in this long thread. I think that you asked me whether I thought I was superior to Hitler or the Nazi's. I am critical of what these people did so I see the perspective they came from as something to avoid. But I am really saying that, even if you see it as a contradiction, that we should rise above beliefs about superiority.

I would agree that people are not necessarily free from the threat of poverty and homelessness in the first world countries. I think that sometimes people can use the language of equality and political correctness as empty rhetoric. Attitudes towards the vulnerable are more than just words. But this is a complex topic, especially as we are having it in the middle of a thread of many other highly emotional dialogues.

I am puzzled about how you see the music of the Beatles, Bob Dylan and psychedelia as lowering consciousness. What do you mean and what music do you believe raises it ?

I have known a couple of people who made art based on toilets and urinals. There may not be a strict division between the sacred and the profane. The quest may be to discover the beauty within madness.

As you suggest that you are more able to take consciousness to the next stage or two on a practical level than I am, I am fascinated to know more. Obviously, I don't know if it is something which you are willing to share about it on this site.

That is a fascinating idea for an art or writing project: taking the idea of Satan and turning him into Jahweh. We can all play around with that idea.

The most relevant art that I can think of is 'The Marriage of Heaven and Hell' by William Blake. Also, I can vaguely remember reading in one of Blake's works, that, 'Milton wrote in fetters because he was part of the devil's party unknowingly.' No wonder that I worry about expressing my dark side, even though I am not religious in a conventional sense, and Blake wasn't a mainstream thinker himself

Your post raises many important points and areas for questioning and examination about states of mind underlying the process of making art. I do believe that the consideration of this is essential and I definitely do believe that art can and should be so much more than decoration or commodities.

While I have done visual art always, in the last few years I have done more creative writing than art, so when I was creating this thread I was thinking about how to create the best fiction but I there are issues underlying all the arts, but with slight differences depending on the form of art. In some ways, it involves thinking of the way in which the aesthetics of the art will affect the viewer and about the dimensions into which the audience may be taken into. However, I do recognise the importance of the way in which art has a subjective element, but, also, as you suggest, it involves symbolism.

One of my biggest questions is about the whole question of dark fiction and fantasy. This is because I have to admit that in many ways this appeals to me, as does magical realism. Here, I would say that some of the authors I admire are Cormac McCarthy, Angela Carter and Stephen King. They involve mythic dimensions and do engage with the dark side of life. It would seem so shallow if they did not. I am influenced by the ideas of Jung and Joseph Campbell. I believe that the ideas of Joseph Campbell were used in the making of 'Star Wars'. Of course, this film was about the portrayal of a quest for popular audiences for film.

However, the underlying question is how dark should one go to create a good story,? I am not saying that in reference to making fiction with a view to what would be sellable, but with a view to what is most interesting for others to read. When I was going to creative writing workshops I did find that I was inclined to go in the direction of the dark and was a bit concerned that I should not do so, because I am not wishing to take others into negative states of mind. Ideally, I would like to write and make art which is transformative in a positive way.

I do believe that part of this process may be about getting into positive states of mind in the first place. At times, I have struggled with depression and dark states of mind, so I do try to work on this. I do some meditation. I would imagine that medication has some effects on the states of consciousness which can be useful for creating positive mental states for making art. I do use some visualisation CDs, including some shamanic ones.

Of course, shamanic journeying involves the journeying to lower worlds as well. I suppose this is where my questioning is based. The shamanic journeying is intentionally going to the lower worlds, but with a view to find healing potentials. So, I guess what I am wondering is whether we should be exploring such depths, or simply be exploring higher states of consciousness. This is on the personal level but also in the art we make.
I am sure that there are no simple answers but I do believe that it matters and has important implications.

I think that you make a very good point that,
'Art is only as dangerous as its context.' I am sure that sound can be misused. Someone once told me that it is even possible to kill purely by the use of sound.

But music has hypnotic potential and I am sure that this can be used with positive or negative intentions and effects.

I started this thread with a view to thinking about creating art but it is hard not to indulge in discussions about music because it affects us and inspires us in every way. I probably spend as much time listening to music as I do reading.

I love the music of the 60s and so much of that was consciousness raising, including the music of the Beatles, Bob Dylan and all the psychedelic bands. Music is so connected to what is going on in culture and it will be interesting to see what music emerges from the pandemic. I do find a lot of good new music, including a lot of psychedelic music because I read music magazines and used to go to record shops regularly before the pandemic.

I am worried that a lot of the record shops may never reopen and many have already shut down. Record shops and live music give music a dimension which I don't believe can be captured when people just rely on You tube and other sites at home.

You made an interesting Freudian slip. You said 'rape' music, presumably meaning rap. I think that it is possible to feel raped in the head by the sound of some music. Some rap can be very interesting politically, but a lot of it is very commercial.

But music is so central to the whole emotional and mental life. I am sure that it is one of the most important means for altering and raising consciousness on all levels.

I was writing this thread more with a view to changing consciousness rather than changing opinions, although it is fairly possible that actual opinions could change. For example, some portrayal of an aspect of life could be portrayed in a film or a novel and it could bring a deeper understanding which changes opinions.

Opinions can be hard to change, even with the aid of philosophy and it is likely that the depiction of certain historical struggles can bring about depth and emotion to a portrayal of an aspect of social life.We could say that this could be done without need to involve an imaginary construct. For example, it is possible to write about life in the form of non fiction rather than just turning it into fiction.

We could also say that when philosophers write can involve some artistry too. I don't just mean sophisticated arguments but the deeper engagement with artistic creation, to bring forth the best philosophical writing.for This might enable people to engage more with the underlying issues and have an incredible world of ideas and knowledge. This may aid the way in which ideas are manifest in real life and bring important changes in the world.

I rewrote what I wrote to you a little bit because I realised that I had been focusing too much on the role of the experience of the individual, whereas I am really wishing to address the wider effects of the arts. In particular, I am concerned about the states of consciousness entered into by the creator of an art form and how this impacts upon the audience, on a personal but also, on a collective basis.

It is worth drawing them. I can see them in carpets and wallpaper designs. I once ate a packet of morning glory seeds a long time ago and I could see the most extraordinary faces on the door, so I sat and sketched them

But I don't recommend eating morning glory seeds. They contain a chemical resembling Lsd.
This means that a lot of people experiment with them for their psychedelic benefits. As a result, they are usually coated in poison and I did have bad stomach ache after using them.

You seem to be opposed to seeing any problems with the idea of superiority, and my view of seeing people as being of equal worth and value. You do point to the evolutionary importance of superiority. However, I am wondering what system of society you are advocating, in terms of ranking according to certain measures of superiority. Would you be wishing to maintain the status quo or challenge power dynamics?

My point about superiority took place within a discussion about political correctness. However, all discussions gets broken up in this long thread. But, bearing in mind that the conversation took place originally in that context I am wondering what are your views on the importance of equality?

Your comment captivates the element which I was thinking about when I was creating the debate, especially as I have a fascinating with music which is extremely dark. In particular, I became interested in metal music when I was studying art therapy. It seemed to be a way of exploring my own shadow side.

Your mention of Marilyn Manson is particularly important because he was and probably is interested in the whole idea of Jung's idea of the shadow. I know this because I read his autobiography. Actually, he said that he thought he was the antichrist at one point. However, over a period of time this idea lessened. He has read a fair amount of philosophy. I have a few of his albums although I don't listen to them very much. I would say that the one that is the most listenable is 'Mechanical Animals'.

But having dived off into talking about Marilyn Manson, I realise the point that you were making is what if someone ends up committing suicide through absorption in this music. Certainly the whole emo (emotional hardcore) genre was esteemed by suicidal teenagers. You could ask whether it just emerged in response to a growing number of teenagers who were depressed or did it in itself promote a culture of depression and self harm. Emo music has faded out of the mainstream now, although I recently saw My Chemical Romance's 'The Black Parade' in a chart of greatest albums of all times.

But, the other side of the argument about music is that music which is dark helps in the most darkest moments and perhaps we need the music which resonates with our worst feelings. So, I would say that while we probably need to be balanced in our listening it would be a mistake to try to avoid all the music which is dark. Perhaps such music prevents many suicides.

But, music and the arts we enjoy is not just about the personal it is about effects on others. So, we could also query whether it is dangerous in the sense of stirring up hatred? What effect does the music of mass entertainment have on people, on a conscious and subconscious level.Does certain music support and invite prejudice and violence?

Of course, it would go deeper than just the lyrics. I would wonder what certain music does on a vibrational level. Here, may be where we begin to see the complexity of music on the subliminal level. Music and the arts are about states of consciousness and it is this potential of the arts that I am really wondering about.

Your response is mostly about whether artists are processing the underlying the cultural meaning of what they are creating. I am sure that many people making art in its various forms are not thinking that much about this, especially in popular art. If you take many best selling authors I am sure that the biggest concern is about making money and also about public creditably. I am sure that is the case in music too. Concerns about popularity can have such a negative effect. It is often that many rock bands music appears to deteriorate once they become mainstream.

The whole idea of art as involving concepts is interesting. Here, it is a conscious intention and we can think of all the various movements ranging from surrealism in art to the idea of punk or glam rock. Of course, beyond the movements we have all the unique concepts the individuals, such the whole idea of the stream of consciousness in James Joyce's novels.

The theme you have raised between subtle and conscious is one that is so vast that it could in itself be made into a dissertation.

I am not advocating a sense of inferiority. I do believe in aiming for one's best and I do not equate superiority with ability My point about the problem of a sense of superiority is more the way in which pride can go wrong and be about power over others. But I do believe in empowerment and certainly not false humility.

What I am talking about is superiority and the dark shadow it casts. I believe that everyone is equal in worth and value. I would argue that this is the basis for opposing oppression which has its roots in people ranking themselves as superior.

I am glad that you think that art matters in many ways because I believe that there are many people who don't, including some people who value philosophy highly. I would say that art does have a major impact at a subconscious level.

It is also interesting that you suggest that art can be too 'light,' I would say that it can be about surface and lack depth. Perhaps that which 'dark' has the ability to explore the subconscious and explore the unknown.

Don't you see any dangers in a sense of superiority? Of course, I would guess that it does depend on how you understand the idea of superior and my own working definition is of is of being intrinsically better.

You speak of a parent's role. In that role, the parent is in the position of having greater experience since he or she has lived longer. However, that is best seen of a transitional state, probably to the point where a child reaches adulthood because we would not always see older people as having more knowledge. Of course, that is not to dismiss the wisdom of older people , who were revered as elders in more traditional societies.

Nevertheless, the point which I feel that you are missing is that a sense of superiority can be a way of putting others down. It may bolster the ego but it is an aspect of power dynamics and I would say that it lies at the heart of oppression.

It is interesting to hear your perspective because I don't think any of the Filipinos I have known have ever talked about the social conditions or politics of their country.

I have conversed with many people from Africa, although many were from towns, not villages. Often, the Africans I have known were in favour of following a lifestyle based on the English one, although, of course, they were ones who had chosen to come here. However, I think that some of them did hope to return to Africa at some point in the future.

It is useful to hear the views of people who come from or are living in Third World countries, as an alternative perspective to that of English or American culture.

I know that you are talking about a hypothetical situation but I am living in a house with 8 people from many different countries in England. A couple of them barely speak any English and I don't speak any of their languages so I do feel partly in the situation you describe.

Despite coming from different countries individually, there are two couples who are able to communicate with their partners in some common language. One of these people, who has some English language communicates with me, and even uses the language translation device on the phone as an aid. One person who is by himself does not speak to anyone else at all.

Of course, what you are describing is a bit different from an island, but it is lockdown, so a time of relative isolation. We don't have a cleaning rota and no house rules. Each time I am about to eat, I find my cutlery, plates missing or lying about used by someone.

My situation is more than hypothetical, so I thought I might as well describe it for you for thinking about your imaginary one.

I think that fear is part of it. I am also aware of another tradition which is the whole law of attraction. I am not sure that it is accepted in scientific circles but I find that it makes sense. It is a different slant to the law of karma, although both probably stem from esoteric sources.

The law of karma looks backwards and is in its essence about cause and effect. It probably involves people's own sense of conscience. The law of attraction in the view of Esther and Jeremy Hicks and a number of other writers involves how we bring about manifest reality based on intentions. However, it is not just about conscious goals but also about subconscious aspects, such as fear. In a way, it may appear as if karma and the law of attraction are opposed but I think that they are interconnected somehow.

Causality is a complex topic and I am not saying that the idea of karma or the law of attraction have captured the whole picture. But causality remains a puzzle even within science and I think many quantum physicist speak of indeterminancy However, I do think that when we think about changes in the world, social and political action most obviously play a major role. But I do think it involves the whole question of manifestation. So, how do you view causation?

I am sure that early hominids did care for the sick and the elderly. Perhaps the problems we are in here is that we have become reliant on institutions. It is complicated because while we may have become dependent on these institutions we do need them because they are enabling us to live longer.

We need the hospitals to provide good quality care. But then we are in a situation that people may end up living so long that even the offspring are middle aged or elderly themselves. So, this means that more people are in residential care.

I am sure that life in some countries, and possibly life where you are in the Phillipines, is very different. In some ways you are probably living a more community based existence which is has benefits. But it has costs too. In particular, you mentioned that it was likely that when vaccines come your country will get a poor quality one.

So the question is how far should development go? Third World countries have been modelling the development of Western countries. But the Western countries are far from perfect. The question is to what extent should people be reliant on large institutions or more community based?

Yes, I have been coming from the view that the whole doomsday predictions are coming from the scientists and disciplines and is not just the territory of the religious. I would say it was the views of these other points of view which probably make me think outside of my own religious background initially.

I was aware of a danger of the way in which the religious expectation of the end times may have a self fulfilling prophecy and I do believe that this fuelled the development of the nuclear arms

But what about all the other ideologies?

The end of the millennium passed and even the mythic 2012 of the Mayan calendar, but many thinkers, including the scientists were thinking that we are not out of danger and one of the biggest fears is climate change.

While I am sure that the scientists fears are evidence based, I do still wonder about the role of self fulfilling prophecy, perhaps in the mass psyche of humanity. I also wonder about the whole participant observer role recognised within science. Our bias affects what we see, and how we respond. How does this manifest in reality?

It is this concern which makes me choose to focus upon the more utopian dreams, because our perceived reality may have implications for what becomes manifest in the world.