Don’t worry, that “vs” is just for show. It’s not a battle, but there are differences, especially if we think about what “reality” really means.
Have you ever searched for what Wikipedia says about reality? Here it is:
“Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence.[1] In physical terms, reality is the totality of the universe, known and unknown.[2] Philosophical questions about the nature of reality or existence or being are considered under the rubric of ontology, which is a major branch of metaphysics in the Western philosophical tradition. Ontological questions also feature in diverse branches of philosophy, including the philosophy of science, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mathematics, and philosophical logic. These include questions about whether only physical objects are real (i.e., Physicalism), whether reality is fundamentally immaterial (e.g., Idealism), whether hypothetical unobservable entities posited by scientific theories exist, whether God exists, whether numbers and other abstract objects exist, and whether possible worlds exist.”
Apparently, the reality is “defined” through an opposition with what is imaginary. But if the imaginary things have the power to make us behave based on them, are they still imaginary? My behavior is real even though the cause of it is not, but if I behave based on it, isn’t it real for me?
Lately, I’m wondering about the distinction between what’s in my mind and what’s outside of it. Of course, this can trigger the discussion if the things that are outside my mind are real for me (ABORT! This gets too philosophical!)
Contrary to what Wikipedia says, I’ll say that what’s in my mind is real, for me, at least. And that’s enough to have power over me. If we think about it, depression is the best at transforming imaginary things into reality. It gets our deepest darkest thoughts and it matches them with parts of our surroundings, ignoring the context. The worst part is that if those parts don’t exist, depression is careful enough to put some signs where there are none (little bastard!)
What I’m trying to say here is that what I find to be real, might not be real for others. This is a reason why some people have such a hard time understanding each other. Their minds created realities and those realities are too different.
How often do you wonder if what you think is real, it’s actually a product of your mind?