The phrase “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away” comes from Philip K. Dick, an American science fiction writer renowned for his explorations into the nature of reality, identity, and consciousness. The quote can be understood as a direct challenge to solipsistic or subjective approaches to understanding what is “real.” In Dick’s view, reality has an ontological stubbornness; it exists independently of our perceptions or beliefs about it.
This perspective is particularly compelling when situated within Dick’s broader oeuvre, which often features protagonists who struggle to discern the real from the unreal in worlds suffused with simulacra, mind-altering substances, and manipulative technologies. His works, such as “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” (which inspired the film “Blade Runner”), frequently blur the line between human and machine, authentic and counterfeit, reality and illusion.
The quote captures the essence of a certain philosophical realism: the idea that there is a world out there that exists independent of our senses or conceptions. While one may be led astray by illusions or ideological blinds, reality remains what it is—immutable and independent. Dick’s observation serves as a stark reminder that subjective belief is not an ultimate arbiter of truth, that no amount of personal conviction can alter the fundamental nature of what is real. In a world increasingly characterized by echo chambers and ideological bubbles, the quote rings especially poignant, reminding us to remain grounded in empirical inquiry and skeptical reasoning as the best tools we have.
A Red Scare
In the early 1950s, during the height of the McCarthy era in the United States, the question of ideological allegiance became perilously conflated with patriotism. Being a communist—or even being suspected of harboring communist sympathies—was tantamount to treason. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) subpoenaed individuals to testify about their own and others’ political beliefs and affiliations, sparking a witch hunt that transcended reason. Jobs were lost, reputations ruined, and lives irrevocably altered. Reality, it seemed, was being crafted through the lens of paranoia and political expediency.
Enter Edward R. Murrow, a respected journalist, and his producer Fred Friendly. Through their television program “See It Now,” they decided to confront the hysteria propagated by Senator Joseph McCarthy. In a time when few dared to speak against McCarthyism for fear of retribution, Murrow and Friendly utilized their platform to expose the inconsistencies and fearmongering of the McCarthy investigations. Armed with facts, interviews, and undeniable footage, they challenged a nation’s distorted beliefs. Murrow’s editorial stance echoed the assertion that “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.” The existence of a ‘Red Scare’ might have been debatable, but the chilling effect on civil liberties was not. The journalistic expose represented a reality that persisted irrespective of the Committee’s rhetoric or public sentiment.
In this historical moment, Murrow and Friendly demonstrated the resilience of reality in the face of widespread misinformation and fear. Despite threats and immense pressure, the facts they presented stood on their own, unaltered by the beliefs or fears of their time. McCarthy was eventually censured by the Senate, and the witch hunts slowly came to an end. The work of Murrow and Friendly reminds us that the truth has an inherent power to withstand even the most severe ideological storms. When the clouds of unreason disperse, what remains is the unyielding structure of reality, challenging us to engage with it honestly and courageously.
The story of Edward R. Murrow and Fred Friendly during the McCarthy era serves as a potent exemplar of the steadfastness of reality amidst a whirlpool of public hysteria and ideological rigidity. It epitomizes the philosophical notion that the world, in its ontological independence, is impervious to our belief systems. This scenario resonates deeply with Philip K. Dick’s declaration: “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
Murrow and Friendly used their journalistic platform as an edifice built on factual integrity. Despite prevailing public sentiment that was shaped largely by fear and McCarthy’s strongman tactics, they took the audacious step to challenge the status quo. Their objective was to scrutinize what had been accepted as “real” through the lens of empirical data, rigorous investigation, and moral accountability. Their actions illuminated how perceptions, when fueled by paranoia and unchecked authority, can diverge dramatically from reality.
The aftermath of their expose also supports the idea that truth, although it can be obscured, cannot be altered. While Murrow and Friendly faced considerable risks, including professional alienation and personal vilification, the truth they laid bare led to a reevaluation of McCarthyism and eventually to its downfall. The story underscores that no matter how strong the ideological tides are, they can’t drown the immutable island of reality. It reiterates that when belief systems are stripped away, what remains is a core of facts, a foundation upon which we should construct our understanding of the world. In this sense, the story exemplifies the inviolable link between reality and truth, offering a lesson that is as relevant today as it was during the McCarthy era.