Introduction

In order for us to be able to differentiate between idealism and realism, we must

first have a thorough understanding of the two terms.

The terms “idealism” and “idealist” are by no means used only within
philosophy; they are used in many everyday contexts as well. Optimists who
believe that, in the long run, good will prevail are often called “idealists”. This
is not because such people are thought to be devoted to a philosophical doctrine
but because of their outlook on life generally; indeed, they may even be pitied,
or perhaps envied, for displaying a naïve worldview and not being
philosophically critical at all. Even within philosophy, the terms “idealism” and
“idealist” are used in different ways, which often makes their meaning
dependent on the context. However, independently of context one can
distinguish between a descriptive (or classificatory) use of these terms and a
polemical one, although sometimes these different uses occur together. Their
descriptive use is best documented by paying attention to the large number of
different “idealisms” that appear in philosophical textbooks and encyclopedias,
ranging from metaphysical idealism through epistemological and aesthetic to
moral or ethical idealism. Within these idealisms one can find further
distinctions, such as those between subjective, objective and absolute idealism,
and even more obscure characterizations such as speculative idealism and
transcendental idealism. It is also remarkable that the term “idealism”, at least
within philosophy, is often used in such a way that it gets its meaning through
what is taken to be its opposite: as the meaningful use of the term “outside”
depends on a contrast with something considered to be inside, so the meaning of
the term “idealism” is often fixed by what is taken to be its opposite. Thus, an
idealist is someone who is not a realist, not a materialist, not a dogmatist, not an
empiricist, and so on. Given the fact that many also want to distinguish between
realism, materialism, dogmatism, and empiricism, it is obvious that thinking of
the meaning of “idealism” as determined by what it is meant to be opposed to
leads to further complexity and gives rise to the impression that underlying such
characterizations lies some polemical intent.

Realism is one of the dominant schools of thought in international relations

theory, theoretically formalising the Realpolitik statesmanship of early modern
Europe. Although a highly diverse body of thought, it is unified by the belief
that world politics is always and necessarily a field of conflict among actors
pursuing wealth and power. The theories of realism are contrasted by the
cooperative ideals of liberalism in international relations.

Realists are divided into three classes based on their view of the essential causes
of interstate conflict. Classical realists believe it follows from human
nature; neorealists attribute it to the dynamics of the anarchic state
system; neoclassical realists believe it results from both, in combination with
domestic politics. Neorealists are also divided between defensive and offensive
realism. Realists trace the history of their ideas back through classical antiquity,
beginning with Thucydides.

Comparison between Idealism and realism

Both idealism and realism, as philosophical terms, deal with the relationship
between our minds and the world. Idealism is the view that things exist only as
ideas, with no reality as material objects outside of the mind. Realism is the
view that objects exist in themselves, independently of our consciousness of
them.

Overall, idealism and realism can be understood as two different perspectives.

Some of the key differences between them include:
1. Idealism causes you to see things in a very hopeful manner, shaping
situations with your own ideas. Realism, on the other hand, causes one to
assess a situation as it is, without overt emotional involvement.
2. Idealists tend to be more positive when compared to realists, in how they
perceive things and carry out tasks.
3. When making decisions, realists are more goal oriented and thorough than
idealists, who may have lofty ambitions, but lack the clarity and focus to put
them into action in an achievable way.
References
Baumgarten, Alexander Gottlieb, 1739, Metaphysics: A Critical Translation
with Kant’s Elucidations, Selected Notes, and Related Materials,
translated and edited by Courtney J. Fugate and John Hymers, London:
Bloomsbury, 2013.
Beattie, James, 1776, Essays on the Nature and Immutability of Truth, On
Poetry and Music, On Laughter, On the Utility of Classical Learning,
Edinburgh: William Creech.
Berkeley, George, 1710, Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human
Knowledge. Reprinted in Berkeley Works: volume 2, 21–115. Citation
by part then section number.
1948–1957, The Works of George Berkeley, edited by A. A. Luce and T. E.
Jessop, 9 volumes, London and Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson and Sons.
Blanshard, Brand, 1939, The Nature of Thought, 2 vols, London: George Allen
& Unwin.
Bosanquet, Bernard, 1885, Knowledge and Reality, London: Kegan Paul,
Trench and Trubner.
1888, Logic, or the Morphology of Knowledge, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Second edition, 1911.