What is reality? Science and the subjective perception of reality

Abstract

In this contribution, we will examine the concept of reality, emphasizing that reality as measured from the perspective of science is not reality itself, but rather it is mediated by a series of factors such as the measurement itself and the paradigm through which data is interpreted. Moreover, the fact that a theory or model produces acceptable results with the measured reality does not mean that the theory is correct, as an incorrect theory or model can be successful from a practical standpoint. From this perspective, the sciences provide countless examples in which inaccurate models and theories yield correct results, even when they are not the fundamental structures upon which the most suitable ones are based to describe reality.