The Invented Reality: How Do We Know What We Believe We Know? (English and German Edition)

The Invented Reality: How Do We Know What We Believe We Know? (English and German Edition)

• Hard Cover Book with Dust jacket

<p><strong>Common sense suggests that reality can be <em>discovered</em>. In contrast, constructivism postulates that what we call reality is a personal interpretation, a particular way of looking at the world acquired through communication. Reality is, therefore, not discovered, but literally <em>invented</em>.</strong></p><p>This book examines how individual, social, scientific, and ideological "realities" are constructed, after which we naively assume they <em>are</em> the "real" realities. Contributors include Ernst von Glaserfeld (known for his cognitive studies with chimpanzees); cybeneticist Heinz von Foerster; David L. Rosenhan (author of <em>On Being Sane in Insane Places</em>); microbiologist Francisco J. Varela; and Gabriel Stolzenberg, professor of mathematics at Northeastern University. Paul Watzlawick has contributed commentary, an introduction and an epilogue, and two of the ten essays.</p><p>For educated readers, this is the first multidisciplinary presentation of a subject of vital importance to the way we think and live.</p>