Realism, also known as ontological realism, is a philosophical concept in which reality is taken to be independent of subjective perceptions and beliefs, including both physical objects and abstract concepts (e.g. time, causality, truth, and morality). This concept has its roots in the philosophical traditions of realism, which date back to the ancient Greeks. Realism is a fundamental belief in the notion that the world exists independently of our ideas about it, and that the objects and events of the world are independent of our thoughts and beliefs about them. The concept of realism has been widely discussed in philosophy, science, and psychology, and has been a major influence on the development of science and technology.
Realism implies that there is an objective reality that is independent of human interpretation and experience. Realism holds that the physical world is real and that our understanding of it is based on empirical observation and experimentation. It states that we can have knowledge of physical objects without relying on our own subjective assessments. Realism also suggests that the physical world is composed of objects that are real in the sense that they exist independently of any observer’s perception or beliefs.
Realism is closely related to the notion of scientific realism, which is the belief that scientific theories are, in some sense, true descriptions of the world. Scientific realism holds that scientific theories can accurately describe reality and that they can be used to make reliable predictions about the behavior of the physical world. Scientific realism is often contrasted with instrumentalism, which is the belief that scientific theories are merely useful tools for predicting and explaining phenomena, rather than being true descriptions of reality.
Realism has been applied to a wide range of philosophical topics, such as the nature of knowledge, the problem of induction, the nature of time, and the nature of morality. In the philosophical tradition, realism has been used to describe a variety of different philosophical positions, such as materialism, naturalism, and idealism. Realism has also been applied to the development of scientific theories, and is an important component of the scientific method.
Realism has been a major influence on the development of science and technology. By rejecting the idea that reality is subjective or dependent on our beliefs and interpretations, realism has allowed scientists to develop reliable methods for understanding and predicting the behavior of the physical world. This has allowed for the development of new technologies and medical treatments, as well as the development of a more detailed and precise understanding of the physical world.
Realism has also been a major influence on the development of psychology, particularly in the field of cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychologists use the notion of realism to explain the way in which we perceive and process the world around us. By assuming that reality is independent of our subjective beliefs and interpretations, cognitive psychologists can develop more accurate models of cognition.
Realism has been a major influence on the development of philosophy, both in the ancient world and in the modern era. In the ancient world, realism was the basis for the philosophical traditions of materialism, naturalism, and idealism. In the modern era, realism has been an important part of the development of such philosophical traditions as empiricism, logical positivism, and pragmatism.
Overall, realism is a concept that has had a major influence on the development of philosophy, science, and psychology. By rejecting the idea that reality is dependent on our subjective beliefs and interpretations, realism has allowed for the development of reliable methods for understanding and predicting the behavior of the physical world.
References
Aristotle. (350 BCE). Metaphysics. Harvard University Press.
Chalmers, A.F. (2014). The character of consciousness. Oxford University Press.
Descartes, R. (1641). Meditations on First Philosophy. Hackett Publishing Company.
Hume, D. (1739). An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding. Oxford University Press.
Kant, I. (1781). Critique of Pure Reason. Harvard University Press.
Lehrer, K. (2009). Theory of Knowledge. Routledge.
Murdoch, J. (1998). Realism and the Nature of Truth. Blackwell.
Quine, W. (1980). From a Logical Point of View. Harvard University Press.
Searle, J. (1992). The Rediscovery of the Mind. MIT Press.