What is the true meaning of the word “real,” and what are the word’s connotations? My first road bump in my search came across in my initial decision on a word. I had chosen reality at first, but had it suggested that I include real in my search as well. To me, that would completely defeat the purpose of a one-word search. However, after long and arduous hours of contemplation (I am not kidding), I have decided on the word “real.” The word “real” encompasses a far greater range of definitions and ideas than reality, and I can still include reality and other real-derived words in my essay. I chose the word real because I’m interested in the intangible, the human experience, and philosophy. Who or what defines what real is to one person or another, and what effects does that have?
Off the top of my head, the word “real” to me simply means anything that exists. To understand that definition, we have to also understand what the word “exist” could me? Something that exists I would say means anything that consists of matter. On the other hand, who is to say that everything that people think isn’t real? Is the Internet real? Are ghosts real? Am I real? It’s quite hard to clearly define what ‘real” is, and that’s why I’m interested in learning more about it.
Of course, there are a plethora of alternative definitions of “real”; not artificial; utter; real number; and so on. Nonetheless, I think the main focus of my search will focus on the original definition I mentioned above. (269)
