Idealism

The foundations of Idealism are ancient.  From early Greek philosophers through the present there has been a need to explain the relationship of the human mind to the reality.  Plato started Western Civilization in a direction claiming that human beings are the focal interest of the universe.  The challenge of philosophy was to explain how the human mind could comprehend the universe.  How one knows things was the most fundamental question.  Plato introduced an explanation that required that the acceptance of the notion that within the mind are innate forms that allow for the recognition of physical things.  Plato did not attempt to deny physical things; he simply meant that physical things could not be recognized without the innate forms.  From Plato’s perspective this made the forms (ideas) more real than the physical things.

            These types of explanations changed over the centuries.  What remained constant was that in relating the mental world to physical world always required an explanation.  The explanation changed with Aristotle, Aquinas, Descartes, Hegel and Marx.  Consistent, philosophy was explaining how the mental world understood the physical world.  In fact, Idealists believe that this is what philosophy should do.  How can there be a connection between the physical reality and mental reality or spirituality without this connection? 

            Many people are not interested in philosophy because they believe that they must recount all of these historical ideas that seem to have no importance in today’s life.   Others realize while Plato’s forms may not be a suitable explanation today; the essential problem for today is connecting the world of ideas with the physical world.  Idealists then are people who need explanations beyond simple physical explanations, to explain how it is that knowledge exists and what it is that one ought to do with that knowledge.

            Many scholars believe that most people in Western Civilization are Idealists[1].  Traditionally idealism has been passed from generation to generation.  Most of the idealism is passed in the form of religious beliefs.  The Idealist relies on ideas that do not come from experience to explain some philosophical points.  Faith is a type of belief that does just that.  One believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is always a matter of faith.  One cannot experience Jesus as the Son of God until one believes that Jesus is the Son of God.  Does this mean that every religious person is an Idealist?  Yes, and because one is not religious does not mean that one is not an Idealist.  Religions are by definition Idealistic. 

            However, what has made most people Idealists is not just religion.  It is how they believe they know things.  Knowledge is based on knowing things prior to experience.  As in the religious example above, these a priori[2] arguments are inculcated into a culture and society.  The idea that human life is sacred is both religious and Idealistic.  The idea that God gave us certain rights as human beings is both idealistic and religious.

            The idea that humanity should strive for perfection is an Idealistic position without necessarily being religious.  A perfect world has never been experienced, yet seeking one may seem reasonable.  Idealists are not considered Idealistic because of their ideals alone.  They are Idealistic because of their ‘ideaism.’  However, one can often recognize an Idealist by their ideals.  However, not all ideals are Idealistic.  Attempting to have fair system of justice may be a reasonable and possible ideal, perhaps not.  But, whether it is Idealism is based on how one knows what is fair and just.