WE ARE FINALLY back with the fifth instalment of our popular series, Talking Points, after a long hiatus. This week, we’re delving into the complex interplay of core values, false ideals, and hyperreality ⎼ concepts that shape our perceptions and actions in ways we might not even realise.
The notion of false ideals first captured my attention through Ai Weiwei’s provocative project, “Ai vs AI”. From January to March 2024, the contemporary artist posed 81 questions to artificial intelligence systems over 81 days ⎼ a duration mirroring his 2011 confinement in a Chinese prison. His questions, ranging from the philosophical to the deeply personal, were emblazoned on billboards across London, Seoul, Berlin, and Milan, challenging us to confront the chasm between human experience and machine intelligence.
This project cultivated a fascination with false ideals that led me to pair it with the concept of core values for this instalment of Talking Points. These fundamental beliefs, which I encountered in an article on personality formation, serve as the bedrock of our identities. They’re the invisible threads weaving through the fabric of our existence, guiding our decisions even when we’re not consciously aware of their influence.
Rounding out our trio of concepts is hyperreality ⎼ a term you might recognise from our weekly newsletter. It’s a notion that feels increasingly relevant in our digital age, where the lines between the real and the simulated blur to the point of indistinguishability.
This exploration of these intertwined ideas will examine how our beliefs shape our perceptions and understanding of the world around us. By critically analysing these concepts, we can gain new insights into both society and ourselves.
Core Values
By its dictionary definition, a core value is a principle or belief that a person or organisation views as being of central importance. Core values are fundamental beliefs or guiding principles that shape our behaviour and decision-making, and represent what is most important to us in life. Core values can influence our actions, relationships, and overall sense of purpose ⎼ in other words, they are not mere abstract concepts, but shape our lives. They are the very essence of who we are, the invisible threads that weave through the fabric of our existence. They are not simply a list of virtues to be recited, but rather the whispered truths that guide our every step, even when we are not consciously aware of their influence.
When was the last time you felt truly alive, truly yourself? Perhaps it was a quiet moment of connection with somone you loved, or the exhilaration of standing up for what you believed in, even when it was difficult. In those moments, your core values were speaking, asserting themselves in the choices you made and the feelings that coursed through you. These values, be they honesty, compassion, or the pursuit of excellence, are not static concepts. They are dynamic forces that shape our interactions with the world around us. They colour our perceptions, influencing how we interpret the actions of others and the events that unfold before us. They are the lens through which we view the world, tinting everything with their particular hue.
But how does one uncover these hidden drivers of our behaviour? It is not a simple task of ticking boxes on a questionnaire or following a set of prescribed steps. Rather, it is a journey of self-discovery, a process of peeling back the layers of our experiences and examining what lies beneath. This journey begins with reflection. We must look back on our lives, not with judgement, but with curiosity. What are the moments that stand out? What are the experiences that have left an indelible mark on our souls? In these memories, we may find clues to our core values.
We must also look to those who inspire us. Who are the people we admire, and why? What qualities do they possess that resonate so deeply within us? In our admiration for others, we often see reflections of our own values, even if we have not yet fully embodied them ourselves. Our priorities, too, can offer insight into our core values. How do we choose to spend our time, our energy, our resources? These choices are not random; they are guided by something deeper, something that speaks to what we truly believe is important in life. For me, creativity, often overlooked as a core value, is very important. It’s the catalyst that drives innovation and brings beauty into the world. It’s not confined to artists or inventors, but is a fundamental human trait that allows us to imagine new possibilities, to solve problems in novel ways. Creativity asks us to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be.
We must also look to those who inspire us. Who are the people we admire, and why? What qualities do they possess that resonate so deeply within us? In our admiration for others, we often see reflections of our own values, even if we have not yet fully embodied them ourselves. Our priorities, too, can offer insight into our core values. How do we choose to spend our time, our energy, our resources? These choices are not random; they are guided by something deeper, something that speaks to what we truly believe is important in life. For me, creativity, often overlooked as a core value, is very important. It’s the spark that ignites innovation and brings beauty into the world. It’s not confined to artists or inventors, but is a fundamental human trait that allows us to imagine new possibilities, to solve problems in novel ways. Creativity asks us to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be.
As we delve into this process of self-discovery to uncover our core values, we should be prepared for surprises. We may find that the values we thought we held dear are not as important as we once believed. We may unearth values that have been lying dormant, waiting for the right moment to present themselves. This exploration of our core values is not a one-time event, but a lifelong practice. As we grow and change, so too may our values evolve. What once seemed fundamental may fade in importance, while new values may emerge from fresh experiences and insights.
In the end, knowing our core values is not about creating a rigid set of rules to live by. It is about understanding ourselves more deeply, about finding a compass to guide us through the complexities of life, and living with authenticity and purpose, aligning our actions with our deepest beliefs. To live in accordance with our core values is to live authentically, to bring our truest selves to every interaction and every decision. It is to create a life that is not just successful by external measures, but deeply satisfying on a personal level. This is the path to a life well-lived, a life that, when we look back upon it, we can say was truly our own.
False Ideals
The glittering landscape of modern life, with its endless parade of enticements and illusions, can be a treacherous terrain. It’s a world where false ideals cast long shadows, distorting our perception and luring us down paths that promise fulfilment but often lead to disillusionment. False ideals are beliefs, standards or principles that are not based on truth, reality or genuine values. They often propagate unrealistic expectations, distort perceptions and can lead to harmful behaviours or outcomes. These ideals can manifest in various aspects of life, including personal, social, cultural and professional spheres.
These false ideals, these phantoms of perfection and progress, are not merely personal delusions. They are the very air we breathe, the water in which we swim. They seep into the fabric of our society, shaping our collective values, our economic structures, and our political discourse. They whisper to us of unattainable beauty, of happiness that can be bought, of success that must come at any cost.
One pervasive manifestation of these false ideals is the propagation of unrealistic beauty standards. Media portrayals often create unattainable ideals about body image, causing us to strive for physical perfection that simply doesn’t exist. This pursuit can result in body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, and in extreme cases, eating disorders. Similarly, society’s emphasis on materialistic goals fosters the false belief that wealth and possessions are the primary indicators of success and happiness, often leading to a hollow sense of achievement.
The notion of perfectionism is another false ideal that plagues many aspects of life, from academics and careers to personal relationships. The belief that perfection is attainable creates unrealistic standards, leading to excessive self-criticism, anxiety, and stress. This relentless pursuit of the unattainable can be detrimental to one’s mental health and overall well-being.
False ideals surrounding social status and prestige can be equally harmful, encouraging individuals to prioritise external validation and comparison with others rather than focusing on their own personal growth and fulfilment. This constant need for social approval can lead to a disconnection from one’s true self and values. Traditional gender roles and stereotypes impose their own set of false ideals, dictating how individuals should behave or express themselves based on their gender, thereby limiting personal freedom and perpetuating inequality.
The concept of ‘success at any cost’ is yet another dangerous false ideal. It may encourage individuals to pursue goals without considering ethical implications or the impact on their well-being and relationships. This single-minded focus can lead to a distorted view of success and potentially harmful decision-making.
Lastly, the belief in instant gratification can create false ideals about the value of hard work, perseverance, and delayed gratification. This mindset can undermine long-term satisfaction and success, as it fails to recognise the importance of patience and sustained effort in achieving meaningful goals.
The toll of these deceptive beliefs is not small. They gnaw at our sense of self-worth, leaving us forever wanting, forever striving, never quite arriving. We must recognise these false ideals as mirages that distort our perception of reality. By questioning the beliefs that have shaped us and challenging the narratives we’ve been sold, we can begin to dismantle their power over us.
The path to challenging these false ideals is not a straight one. It’s a journey of constant reevaluation, of learning and unlearning. But it’s a journey worth taking, for in freeing ourselves from the tyranny of unrealistic expectations, we may find a life that is richer, more satisfying, and infinitely more real than any glittering illusion could ever be.
Hyperreality
In his seminal 1981 work Simulacra and Simulation, French sociologist Jean Baudrillard introduced the postmodern concept of hyperreality—the idea that contemporary society has replaced reality with symbols and signs disconnected from authentic experiences.
In his article on the same topic, Kian Bakhtiari writes:
For more than 200,000 years, we humans only had access to the physical world, full of objects we could touch, taste, hear, smell and see. In the 1980s the internet gave birth to cyberspace: a virtual computer world designed to facilitate online communication. Then in 1991, the Web became publicly available; a new technology that would fundamentally change human behavior.
For kids growing up today, it’s hard to imagine a time without computers, smartphones, Google, Netflix or Instagram. A time when boredom existed, where we needed to memorize phone numbers and ask complete strangers for directions. Today, the ubiquitous use of social media and digital devices has made the web look and feel like the real world. The division between reality and imagery has collapsed.
Baudrillard argues that we now live in a world dominated by simulacra—copies or simulations that lack a direct relationship to any original reality. As these simulacra proliferate, the boundary between genuine reality and fabrication dissolves, creating a disorienting hyperreality.
To illustrate the progression toward hyperreality, Baudrillard outlines three orders of simulacra:
First Order: Direct representations of reality like photographs or maps.
Second Order: Distortions of reality through altered or manipulated images.
Third Order (Hyperreality): Simulations wholly detached from any real-world referent, yet presented as authentic.
For Baudrillard, hyperreality signals the disappearance of the original referent. As simulation technology becomes more advanced, the line between reality and its imitation vanishes. We become surrounded by manufactured images and models bearing no clear affiliation with tangible reality.
Baudrillard implicates media, advertising and consumer culture in proliferating hyperreality. Television, brand messaging and entertainment create beguiling facsimiles of reality that shape our worldview. Commodities and cultural products often attain a perceptual preeminence over actual experiences.
In Baudrillard’s assessment, hyperreality suffuses contemporary life, from politics to popular entertainment. The prevalence of these elaborate simulations estranges us from the visceral qualities of authentic reality.
Understanding the concept of hyperreality is vital for evaluating how media, technology and consumerism mediate our relationship with the world. It prompts questions about the depth and validity of experience in a milieu dominated by artifice. For Baudrillard, recognising hyperreality is essential to regaining firm footing in a tangible reality.
This is the word we’ve chosen as the title for our Weekly Newsletter.
