Differences Between Idealism and Realism - 3232 Words

Philosophers say the key to understanding human life is answering the really philosophical questions such as why are we here? Where did we come from? Where will we go? And so on and so forth. This has truly been a debate for the ages in philosophy, one that has stimulated thinkers, philosophers, theologists and scientists for thousands of years, hence led emergence of idealism and realism as two major traditional philosophical schools of thought in the realm of philosophy. So this paper projects the meaning of idealism and meaning of realism then discusses in detail the basic assumptions of idealism and those of realism and how these two traditional schools of thought differ and their implications within the educational setting. Meaning†¦show more content†¦We achieve greater and greater knowledge through proper study of the world. In Realism, a person is an empty vessel for knowledge which can only come from outside of the self, through observation. Aristotle is an exponent of realism. He asserts that matter has an objective reality and that matter is the underlying principle of all things. Philosophers like Herbert Spencer and John Locke postulated that matter is the ultimate reality. They say that things we experience with our senses such as hills, trees, animals, sand, water and man are simply not ideas in the mind of the observing individuals or even in the mind of an external observer. Rather they exist in themselves independent of the mind. Realism categorized in Religious realism, Aristotle Realism and Scientific realism Religious realism represented by Thomas Aquinas asserts that mind and matter form the composite. Man is a composite of body and soul. The spirit is more important and higher than the body. He argues that this is proved through revelation and reasoning. Seetharamu (1989) argues that Aristotle Realism was proposed by Aristotle who was Plato’s student where by Aristotle believed that the world could be understood at a fundamental level through the detailed observation and cataloguing of phenomenon. That is knowledge, which is what the wordShow MoreRelatedDifferences Between Idealism and Realism3232 Words   |  13 Pagesled emergence of idealism and realism as two major traditional philosophical schools of thought in the realm of philosophy. So this paper projects the meaning of idealism and meaning of realism then discusses in detail the basic assumptions of idealism and those of realism and how these two traditional schools of thought differ and their implications within the educational setting. Meaning of idealism Idealism is one of the traditional philosophical schools of thought, idealism as describe by IshumiRead MoreExploring the Differences Between Idealism and Representative Realism695 Words   |  3 PagesExploring the Differences Between Idealism and Representative Realism The two differences between idealism and representative realism are, realists believe that objects properties such as smell and taste exist in the object but representative realists disagree and believe that these need to perceive to exist. The second difference between idealism and representative realism is for idealists things only exist when perceived, whereas representative realism means thingsRead MoreIdealism and Realism in International Relations Essay1318 Words   |  6 Pagesthe units, relations between states, and maintaining peace in the international system. Areas of international relations include diplomacy, international law, international finance, etc. Within this field of study, idealism and realism are two main theories. The two rivaling theories have been on a great debate, or discussion, since the emergence of international relations. From interpretation to decision-making, they are on distinctive stand from each other. On one hand, idealism focus on what ‘should’Read MorePhilosophy of Science in Social Research1455 Words   |  6 Pagesapproaches of philosophy of science in social research- * Realism * Empiricism * Positivism * Post positivism * Idealism * Rationalism * Functionalism * Structuralism * Utilitarianism * Instrumentalism * Feminism * Materialism * Skepticism * Nomothetic and Ideographic * Solipsism * Atomism * Holism * Perspectivism * Relativism These are described below- * Realism: Realism is a perspective of social research which representsRead MoreRealism And Its Impact On The Mind Independent Existence Of The World935 Words   |  4 PagesTraditionally, realism is associated with any position that endorses belief in the reality of something. Thus, one might be a realist about one s perceptions of tables and chairs (sense datum realism), about tables and chairs themselves (external world realism), or about mathematical entities such as numbers and sets (mathematical realism), and so forth. Scientific realism is a realism about whatever is depicted by our best scientific theories—from this point forward, ‘realism’ here denotes scientificRead MoreComparative Art: A Progression from Realism to Impressionism1352 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Realism to Impressionism 1 Realism to Impressionism: A Progression The 19th century was a time of radical change and innovation in nearly every aspect of society. The Industrial Revolution changed the face of transportation, business, and science. A race for resources and power among European nations led to colonization of the most remote areas of the world. Old political structures stumbled while new ones like Communism took root. The arts were not immune to this climate of change. LiteratureRead MoreShakespeare s Othello - Desdemona And Emilia Essay959 Words   |  4 Pagestime Iago. They are part and parcel of what goes on in the play and eventually how the crisis of the play is resolved. The most important similarity between Desdemona and Emilia is their loyalty to their husbands. A sharp contrast between these two women is realized with regard to Desdemona’s innocence and idealism and Emilia’s experience and realism. These two females of the play can be compared and contrasted in a number of ways.† â€Å"One of the most important aspects that caught my eye right awayRead MoreIntellectual Progress Of Mankind By Martin Luther King Jr.1610 Words   |  7 Pagesto his life. Three main subject leads toward Intellectual Progress of mankind, philosophies, ideologies, and theories which this paper examines as related themes that often intersect in educational ideas (Gutek, 2004). Philosophy falls somewhere between the arts and sciences. On the one hand, it offers idiosyncratic worldviews that may be too disparate to compare. It is not surprising, then, that the question â€Å"Is philosophy progressive?† is hardly ever raised. From one viewpoint, it offers quirkyRead More1.Explain Some Of The Benefits A Student May Gain By Studying1290 Words   |  6 Pagesdualism and idealism. Materialism, dualism, and idealism are all alike in the sense that they all state what is considered real. Idealism claims that reality is immaterial, something other than matter. Materialism claims that reality, or Being, consists of physical objects and their components. Substance Dualism claims that both the immaterial and the material objects exist. 7. Evaluate the 4 views as to the nature of universals and particulars. The 4 views are extreme or platonic realism, exaggeratedRead MoreThe Realist Versus Liberalist Debate1432 Words   |  6 Pages If we look at history, as Dr. Hirst explained in one of her lectures, Liberalism, or Idealism as some may call it, was the founding theory in IR. It offered an optimistic view of the world inherited from enlightment philosophers such as John Locke and Immanuel Kant. Liberalism is based on the belief that nation states will end up cooperating and that there will be peace amongst them. On the other hand, Realism, inspired by the works of Machiavelli and Hobbes, offer a pessimistic view of the world