Q: was there any correspondence or correlation between the philosophical question “what is reality?” and the everyday imperative or exhortation to “get real?”
A: Yes, there was an opposite or inverse correlation. For implicit in the philosophical question, what is reality, was the idea that we don’t know what reality is, but only think we do; while implicit in the everyday imperative to “get real” was the idea that of course we do know what reality is, but simply refuse to see it or face it.
When we are told to “get real” we are being told to stop fooling ourselves, see the obvious. When we ask “what is reality”, we are told to stop fooling ourselves, look with care on the obvious.
(Amateur philosophizing galore –among other treasures– at Chance Sweepings.)
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