The illusory nature of our perception of reality. Explained with the help of “Game of thrones”, football and history textbook.
Our brain is not able to distinguish right from wrong. It would recognize the difference only if pre-warned. Take, for example, “Game of thrones”: on the screen it looks as 'true' as a football match or a documentary on bioengineering. How can we determine then which video of these three is “true” and which is “fiction”? Only if we are warned in advance. Because if you rely on own eyes only, you can easily believe in the reality of many episodes of the“Thrones” and not believe in the reality of bioengineering discoveries.
Why are the “Thrones” being discussed so actively, surrounded by thousands of fan theories regarding the history, culture and economy of Westeros, if this is a fictional continent? For exactly the same reason people discuss politics, sports or celebrities. International politics for most of us is a sphere just as unattainable as Westeros. We are not present personally at diplomatic meetings, do not participate in backroom discussions, see nothing with our own eyes. We judge about politics, relying on information from the media. We never know the true state of affairs - we get only fiction, concocted especially for us by intermediaries (press managers and journalists). We are in contact not with reality, but with something created on its basis.
People have this intellectual need to think over and discuss a certain system or a strategy. This system can be either football or Westeros - the main thing about it is to get your brain involved. Football, in fact, is a construct just as mythical as the universe of the “Thrones”: no practical benefit comes from it, all the action is developing along artificial rules, and the element of personalization makes the game even more addictive (i.e., the ability to get to know players by names and watch their life outside the field).
Okay - in case of politics and football we still have some 'touch', some 'connection'. But in the case of history we don't. How can you trust history books? We don't have and will never have the ability to verify the facts contained therein. The Inquisition, stone age, Columbus' expedition, ancient Chinese civilization are phantoms for us, just as Westeros. So why do we have to believe the textbook story, while "Game of thrones" is considered fiction? History books also have authors - moreover, they have customers who order to write them.
We live in a world where the concept of "reality" is extremely vague. In parallel with the incredible scientific discoveries, there are many doubts as to the authenticity of the facts to review which there was, apparently, enough time - for example, whether the Earth is round actually, or flat? There is enough evidence for both theories. Moreover, not understanding real reality, people managed to construct a virtual reality, thereby introducing more confusion in their own minds.
If formulated in three theses, the readiness of modern man brain's to separate the truth from lies will be something like the following:
Unshakable truths do not exist.
You can't trust anyone unconditionally.
Everything is possible.
So do not hesitate to discuss the battle for Highgarden with the same fervor as the evening news. You can't influence the developments of both shows anyway. And you will never truly convince your brain that Jon snow does not exist.