2. IDEALISM
Idealism is important to philosophical discourse because its adherents
assert that reality is actually dependent upon the mind rather than
something that exists independent of the mind. Or, put another way, that
the ideas and thoughts of the mind constitute the essence or fundamental
nature of all reality.
Extreme versions of Idealism deny that any world at all exists outside of our
minds. Narrower versions of Idealism claim that our understanding of
reality reflects the workings of our mind first and foremost—that the
properties of objects have no standing independent of the minds
perceiving them. Theistic forms of idealism limit reality to the mind of God.
3. In any case, we cannot truly know anything for certain about
whatever external world may exist; all we can know are the mental
constructs created by our minds, hitch we can then attribute to an
external world.
4. THE MEANING OF THE MIND
The exact nature and identity of the mind upon which reality is
dependent has divided idealists of various sorts for ages. Some argue
that there is an objective mind that exists outside of nature. Others
argue that the mind is simply the common power of reason or
rationality. Still others argue that it is the collective mental faculties of
society, while others focus on the minds of individual human beings.
5. PLATONIC IDEALISM
According to Plato, there exists a perfect realm of what he calls Form
and Ideas, and our world merely contains shadows of that realm. This
is often called "Platonic Realism," because Plato seems to have
attributed to these Forms an existence independent of any mind.
Some have argued, though, that Plato nevertheless also held to a
position similar to Immanuel Kant's Transcendental Idealism.
6. EPISTEMOLOGICAL IDEALISM
According to René Descartes, the only thing that can be known is whatever is going on in
our minds—nothing of an external world can be directly accessed or known about. Thus
the only true knowledge we can have is that of our own existence, a position summed up
in his famous statement "I think, therefore I am." He believed that this was the only thing
about knowledge that could not be doubted or questioned.
7. SUBJECTIVE IDEALISM
According to Subjective Idealism, only ideas can be
known or have any reality (this is also known as
solipsism or Dogmatic Idealism). Thus no claims about
anything outside of one's mind have any justification.
Bishop George Berkeley was the main advocate of this
position, and he argued that so-called "objects" only
had existence insofar as we perceived them. They were
not constructed of independently-existing matter.
Reality only seemed to persist either because people
perceived it to, or because of the continuing will and
mind of God.
8. OBJECTIVE IDEALISM
According to this theory, all of reality is based on the perception
of a single Mind—usually, but not always, identified with God—
which then communicates its perception to the minds of
everyone else. There is no time, space, or other reality outside of
the perception of this one Mind; indeed, even we humans are not
truly separate from it. We are more akin to cells that are part of a
larger organism rather than independent beings. Objective
Idealism started with Friedrich Schelling, but found supporters in
G.W.F. Hegel, Josiah Royce, and C.S. Peirce.
9. TRANSCENDENTAL IDEALISM
According to Transcendental Idealism, developed
by Kant, all knowledge originates in perceived
phenomena, which have been organized by
categories. This is also sometimes known as
Critical Idealism, and it does not deny that
external objects or an external reality exists, it
just denies that we have access to the true,
essential nature of reality or objects. All we have
is our perception of them.
10. ABSOLUTE IDEALISM
Similar to Objective Idealism, Absolute Idealism states that all objects are
identified with an idea, and the ideal knowledge is itself the system of ideas.
It is likewise monistic, its adherents asserting that there is only one mind in
which reality is created.
11. IMOPORTANT BOOKS ON IDEALISM
The World and the Individual, by Josiah Royce
Principles of Human Knowledge, by George Berkeley
Phenomenology of Spirit, by G.W.F. Hegel
Critique of Pure Reason, by Immanuel Kant