In a certain classroom at a certain university, a professor and his students....
"Alright guys, today we're going to talk about two things that are fairly mundane in appearance, but not to be under evaluated. Reality and truth."
"Professor, is this going to be an exam topic?"
"Absolutely, Mr. Burns."
"Okay, headache coming on, sigh..."
"Don't be melodramatic and answer, what is reality to you?"
"The world we live in, right?"
"Hmm, rather drab answer. Miss Whisley, what is reality to you?"
"Fundamental concept that expresses in compendium the quality of everything as it 'is', in objective or subjective premises, Professor."
"Textbook answer, as always Ms. Whisley."
"Since we have that definition, what is truth?"
"An absolute correspondence with actual reality, professor."
"Textbook again, Miss Whisley. Mr. Russell, what is truth to you?"
"I think it's the refutation of reality."
"Hmm, not bad. But if I told you, that truth can define reality, but that reality is not strictly related to truth, what would you think?"
"That I would need an aspirin professor..."
"The usual melodramatic Mr. Burns."
"But all kidding aside professor, what does your statement mean? What are you getting at?"
"Quickly said. Let's take for instance, that I tell you that I killed a man today..."
"Really!?"
"And as planned, Mr. Burns believes this statement of mine, therefore this becomes a truth. Mr. Burns in turn, tells Mr. Russel, who in turn tells Miss Whisley, and so on..."
"Word spreads and this truth becomes a reality, right?"
"Exactly Miss Williams. This truth, while not true, becomes a reality. A reality that is positioned parallel to our reality. "
"The truth we believe becomes a reality?"
"That's right Mr. Hademar! Sometimes, unfortunately, there is no absolute correspondence to the actual reality because we ourselves deny the existence of that truth. In doing so, another reality is created."
"So what is not real, can become real if given the proper credibility?"
"That's right! Now, what causes a clash of realities?"
"A disagreement."
"Excellent Mr. Russell."
"An exchange of views?"
"Good Ms. Williams."
"Who or what decides, whether one reality should prevail over another?"
"Evidence to disprove its veracity."
"Yes right, Miss Whisley. And then?"
"Um... We?"
"Mr. Burns, you amazed me. That's just the answer I wanted. It's us. If overnight, someone comes along and tells you that the earth is flat, and you firmly believe it, that becomes a reality. A reality within our reality."
"But professor, it can never be reality, because it is a lie."
"Yes Miss Blanchet, it is a lie all right, but within our reality if we decide so, then it is so."
"And from here it goes back to my assertion earlier, truth may reflect reality, but reality does not necessarily reflect a truth."
"So it is not true what 'is,' but it is true what we believe? Isn't that too unreal a concept?"
"Mr. Hademar, if I told you today that you were ugly and the whole class agreed with my opinion, at first glance what would you think?"
"That he's ugly, I suppose?"
"Exactly, and even if that were not the case, only a strong will would rebel against such a reality. But that's another subject."
"The will beyond reality then."
"The will beyond everything, Miss Blower. It is not true what is, but it is true what our will tells us it is. Don't stop at one reality, open your minds and confront as many realities as you can, after which, draw your conclusions."
"Well, that's it for today. Take care, all of this will be on the next exam, I don't allow excuses of any kind."
"Thanks for the lesson professor."
"See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow, my dear students."