"In order to find out how things really are one must understand the filters through which one perceives the world." Evaluate and discuss this claim.

Throughout history, people have tried to answer question "What is the true essence of things and events?" and in order to find an answer to the question different philosophers have proposed different theories. John Locke says that most of our knowledge about the outside world is based upon one's empirical observations. On the other hand, Berkley argues that experiential perceptions do not give the true information about the world, as all physical objects exist only …

…the same results despite the religion or cultural background of investigator. Overall, one can say, that what people learn about the world is heavily influenced by one's background and some factors that lie beyond one's personality. Although understanding some of the filters does help one to get objective or true essence of the events, there are factors, by understanding which, one does not discover how things really are because one cannot look past the filters.