Realism, Skepticism, Idealism, and Epistemology Concepts
Realism and Its Different Meanings
Realism is a term used for two different doctrinal approaches in epistemology.
Realism in Modern Philosophy
In modern philosophy, realism is the doctrine that states that ordinary objects perceived by the senses, such as tables and chairs, have an independent existence from the perceiver. In this sense, it is contrary to the idealism of philosophers such as George Berkeley and Immanuel Kant.
- In its extreme form, sometimes called naive realism, it is thought that things perceived by the senses are, in fact, what they seem.
- In more complex versions, sometimes known as critical realism, there is some explanation of the relationship between the object and the observer, taking into account the possibility of delusions, hallucinations, and other perceptual errors.
Realism in Medieval Philosophy
In medieval philosophy, the term realism referred to a position that considered Platonic forms, or universal concepts, as real. This position is now called Platonic realism. In Plato’s philosophy, a common name, such as “bed,” refers to the ideal nature of the object, suggested by its definition. This ideal nature has a metaphysical existence independent of particular objects of that class. Thus, circularity exists apart from particular circles; justice, whether in individuals or states; and the idea of a bed, regardless of individual beds.
In the Middle Ages, this position was defended against nominalism, which denied the existence of such universals. Nominalists claimed that many objects called by one name share nothing but the name. Compromises between these two positions included:
- Moderate realism, which claimed that universals exist in objects of the same type but not independent of them.
- Conceptualism, which held that universals could exist independently of objects of a particular type, but only as an idea in the mind, not as a metaphysical entity that exists in itself.
Skepticism, Relativism, and Other Concepts
Skepticism
Skepticism is an epistemological position that denies the possibility of attaining objective knowledge or truth of anything because it believes there is never a sufficient reason for certainty.
Relativism
Relativism is an epistemological stance that considers that there are no universal criteria to achieve truth. Therefore, there are no universally acceptable truths or realities, but these are relative to the individual and the community in which they live. It can be epistemological, ethical, or cultural.
Other Key Concepts
- Discovery: An activity aimed at capturing a state of things so that it can be shared with others.
- Opinion: A state of knowledge on a subject; something is thought to be true, but without complete certainty.
- Belief: An idea considered true by the person who professes it, usually based on faith, created by the mind. It is usually idealized in the interpretation of cognitive content or a fact (abstract or concrete) of which there is no absolute proof, nor does it require justification or a sound foundation. It’s an opinion based on both subjective and objective elements.
- Faith: Belief and assent to the truth of a statement made by another, based on their alleged authority and veracity.
- Certainty: Full possession of the truth corresponding to perfect knowledge. The awareness of it allows the claim, without a shadow of a doubt, with full confidence that such knowledge is true and valid.
- Thought: All the products that the mind can generate, including the activities of the intellect or rational abstractions of the imagination.
Idealism
Idealism (Kant, Hegel): A theory of reality and knowledge that attributes a key role to the mind in the structure of the perceived world. Throughout the history of philosophy, different uses and definitions can be distinguished. In its most radical form (often rejected), it is equivalent to solipsism, a view that says that reality is derived from the activity of one’s mind and that nothing exists outside of oneself. However, in everyday language, the idealist fully recognizes the external or natural world and avoids stating that it can be reduced to mere thought.
For idealists, the mind acts and is, in fact, able to do things that otherwise would not be possible, such as law, religion, art, or mathematics. More radical statements assert that objects perceived by a person are affected to some extent by mental activity. If a study of the real world pretends to be scientific, it is essential to take this fact into account.