What is idealism?

Idealism is a broad spectrum of beliefs and perspectives primarily based on spirituality rather
than purely existing matter in the world. Idealism basically means what we think thus housed in
the mind. It is not a true fact in the physical or real world.The concept of idealism has been
debated and explored by philosophers and thinkers throughout history, shaping worldviews,
ideologies, and approaches to life. In this discussion, we will go over the main ideas of idealism,
its historical development, notable proponents, and its contemporary relevance.

Background of idealism :

Idealism is one of the most important philosophies that has ever been formulated. It is the oldest
system of philosophy known to human civilization. The history of idealism indeed is vast and
multifaced which includes wide array of philosophical point of view and developments.
Although Idealist philosophers vary enormously on many specifics, they agree on the following
two points:

1. The human spirit is the most important element in life; and

2. The universe is essentially nonmaterial in its ultimate nature. (Taneja, 1995)

From It’s birth place in Greek to the modern philosophy it has came to a long way. Its rich
history shows humanity’s fascination with questions about the reality, the mind, and the
relationship between them.

 Ancient Greek philosopher Plato (427 BCE - 347 BCE) is known as the father of
idealism in philosophy
 . The Roots of Idealism in Ancient Philosophy. The first philosophical use of the term
"idealism" was made by Leibniz (1646-1716), who used it in reference to the
philosophy of Plato. (Salucci, 2002)
 George W.F Huge, a german philosopher formulated the comprehension of
philosophical worldview which is based on idealism.
 Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau developed a transcendentalist
variety of idealism.
 Asian religion such as Hinduism and Buddhism rest on the spiritual outlook
associated with idealist

Types of idealism:

Idealism, as a philosophical stance, encompasses various interpretations and schools of thought.

Here are some of the main types of idealism:

Subjective idealism: Subjective idealism denies the existance of external realm. It believes
that only mind and mental factors exists. subjective idealism suggests that everything we
experience, including the world around us, is created by our minds. An example of this is
dreaming: during dreams, we perceive things that feel real, but they exist only in our minds
and don't correspond to the external world. This idea proposes that reality is a product of our
individual consciousness.

Objective idealism : objective idealism states that reality exists in one’s perspective. If we
were to give an example that could be colors.Colors like red, blue, or green exist in our
minds as interpretations of light wavelengths, rather than as inherent properties of objects.
So, the external world's properties, such as color, depend on mental perceptions, illustrating
the principles of objective idealism.

Absolute idealism : absolute idealism says that everything, including the physical world and
our thoughts, is all part of one big interconnected consciousness. It's like saying the universe
is a giant mind, and everything in it is just different aspects of that mind. An example of
absolute idealism is the concept of the universe as a single, interconnected consciousness.
Imagine the universe as a big ocean, and individual minds and objects are like waves within
that ocean. Each wave is distinct, yet they all arise from and return to the same ocean. In
this , the ocean represents the universal spirit, which encompasses all existence. This
perspective suggests that everything, from the stars in the sky to the thoughts in our minds, is
interconnected and ultimately part of a greater whole.

Transcendental idealism: Transcendental idealism was proposed by philosopher Immanuel

Kant. It suggested that our minds play a crucial role in shaping our experience of reality. But
kant also argued that our mind sets some frameworks suchas time and space,in our
perception. Which shapes our understanding towards the world.

Conclusion:

idealism is still a big deal in the world of philosophy. It's all about how our thoughts and
ideas shape the way we see and understand reality. From the ancient wisdom of thinkers like
Plato to the heavyweight theories of folks like Hegel, idealism has been making us question
what's really real for ages. Sure, some people might say it's a bit old-fashioned, but idealism
still has a lot to teach us about how our minds work and how we perceive the world around
us.

Even in today's world, where science and technology seem to dominate, idealism is still
relevant. It's like a gentle reminder that our thoughts and perceptions have a huge impact on
how we interpret things. It's all about encouraging us to keep exploring life's big questions
and to stay curious about the mysteries of existence. Idealism basically says, "Let's take a
moment to think about how our ideas shape our world." And in a world that's always
changing and evolving,and that's a pretty important thing to consider.
Reference:

Salucci, A. (2002). Idealism. INTERS – Interdisciplinary Encyclopedia of Religion and

Science. Retrieved from https://inters.org/idealism

Taneja, V.R.(1995) Education Thought and Practice. Sterling Publishers Pvt.Ltd.New Delhi.
(Taneja, 1995)