Truth is both material and conceptual. We can know material reality through the consequences of our interaction with it. We can know conceptual reality through social consensus- that is, truth must be mutually acknowledged for it to be meaningful and relevant.
When social consensus collapses, society loses its shared framework for reality. Without a broadly accepted foundation for what is meaningful or relevant, communication itself becomes unstable. Instead of debate or negotiation, conflicts become zero-sum struggles over whose version of reality will dominate.
In America today, consensus remains elusive. Political and cultural groups are divided into opposing, multifaceted camps, each with its own understanding of reality and their place within it. Instead of conversation leading to resolution, or innovation, every disagreement turns into a fight for survival. As a result, trust in major institutions (whether it be government, media, science, law enforcement, etc.) has crumbled. People no longer believe these systems are neutral or reliable, because every event is filtered through conflicting perspectives. Under this social contention, institutions struggle to function and the country continues to become more divided and unstable.
When people cannot come to a shared understanding of reality, conspiracy theories flourish. Conspiracy theories offer emotionally compelling and cohesive narratives in place of uncertainty. People, desperate for certainty, become more susceptible to radicalization and cult-behavior, clinging to explanations that reinforce their existing worldview. This shift fuels a culture where performative reality takes precedence over material consequences— political gestures, viral misinformation, and cultural 'wars' become more important than engaging in the work it takes to nurture a robust, stable society.
As this spreads, symbolic actions start to matter more than tangible results with meaningful consequences. Politics becomes more about making statements than solving problems, misinformation spreads faster than facts, and the focus remains on whose culture is socially acceptable instead of how the mosaic of cultures within America can co-exist respectfully. If we are unable to come to a shared, working understanding of reality, the social fabric of this country remains vulnerable.
People who don’t conform to the dominant beliefs of their social groups risk being pushed out, losing their place in their own communities. Belonging is no longer about shared values or experiences— it’s about loyalty to a specific version of reality. Those in power are constantly working to impose their own narrative onto the realities of those they have power over, whether through media influence, legal pressure, or direct force. In a world without common ground, the struggle is no longer about what is true, but about who has the authority to define truth itself.