On top of that is chemical reality, the world of molecular biology and physiology, a result of quantum mechanics, but very different in appearance, followed by biological reality (evolution, reproduction, sickness and health. Even this world is rarely dealt with by us (except, of course, when we get a toothache or a kidney stone!). This leads further to individual behavior, thought, consciousness, psychology, and in groups we inhabit a social and cultural dimension, which we perceive in historical, cultural, political and economic ways.

None of these is more real than the others, they all exist simultaneously, and we deal with the one that seems most relevant to us at the time. A particle physicist may study one reality professionally, equations on a blackboard, but he also grapples with the economic realities of his career, office politics, his emotional world of family, the civic complexities of his community, the troublesome international situation, domestic politics and economics, or the nagging thought of that growing spot on his xrays his doctor keeps whining to him about. Which is the real world? The answer, of course, is they all are. And they all affect each other, often in ways we do not understand.

We never see all of reality at once, Jody. We only work with one little piece of it at a time. And even our knowledge of that is limited by the limitations of our senses and our reason. This can’t help but give us a skewed view of what is really going on.

The truthers, in fact, fanatics of all kinds, are lost in this world. They pick one thread in the tapestry they think they understand and weave an elaborate fabric with it. This is the origin of religion, superstition, ideology, and madness. And to some extent, we are all truthers about something.

According to today’s sitcoms and commercials, what woman in her right mind would ever throw away a shoe?

Might be another free market in that, though, selling politi-shoes for the simple purpose of throwing…