What is the Ultimate Reality?

One of the most important questions in metaphysics—some would say the only question—Involves the nature of reality.  What is reality?  What, if anything, gives rise to reality?  What if there were only nothingness instead of reality?

As we can quickly see, these questions do not lend themselves to any quick, easy answer.  They involve deep thought, inward reflection, and perhaps most importantly of all, discussion.

Let’s specifically deal with the question of ultimate reality.

Many metaphysicians say that the ultimate reality is consciousness.  There is good reason for that.  Consciousness is the one thing which any conscious person knows exists.  Indeed, all else that is known, is known only as it reaches (or arguably originates in) consciousness.

There are other candidates for being the ultimate reality.  These include God, STEM (space-time-energy-mass), Cosmic Strings (as in String Theory), Love, and numbers.

Numbers, or let us say, mathematics, are a candidate for several reasons.  First, mathematics is the most exact of exact sciences.  In mathematics, there is no room for opinion.  On the other hand, numbers are the most abstract of concepts.  The number “seven” does not exist in nature, unless it is a measure of something.  This seems to be a contradiction, but then, who says that ultimates are easily understood?

STEM (space-time-energy-mass) is another candidate.  Everything of which we are aware involves at least one of the four constituents of STEM.  We cannot imagine there being no time, or no space.  STEM is not, however, four separable things.  Space-time and energy-mass are unified with each other through mathematical relationships.

Cosmic Strings are said to be the ultimate constituents of the universe, but they are so small, that there is considered to be no hope of ever proving that they exist.  Therefore, although string theory seeks to be the ultimate scientific explanation of physical reality, it defies the basic rules of scientific evidence.

Love may not be a metaphysical concept in the strict sense, but what would reality be without it?


Perhaps the most controversial candidate for being the ultimate reality is God.  God is unknowable.  He is said to be the unknowable essence, the innermost reality that gives rise to all of reality.  He is said to love us with infinite love, yet when we see (or experience) suffering, cruelty and tragedy, we cannot easily (or at all) reconcile those with Him.

Not mentioned before is the concept that some people have, the concept that there is no ultimate reality at all.  In this concept, commonly expressed as, “It’s turtles all the way down,” there is an endless hierarchy of ever more basic principles, and perhaps, ever higher levels of existence.

Finally, there is the worldview that many, perhaps most, people seem to have, which is that there is no point at all in even thinking about metaphysics.  Life, truth, beauty—good and evil—none of these is worth thinking about.  For such people, life consists of daily survival, material security, and then proceeding toward luxuries.  Power, if it can be had, might be ruthlessly pursued and exercised.

This commentary has not, of course, intended to answer the question.  I hope you have found something in it worth thinking about.

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