Philosophical realism: meaning and characteristics

Philosophy since its origins has asked about reality and its relationship with ourselves. In this sense, there is a current known as philosophical realism. It is responsible for studying the following question: Does a real world exist by itself, independent of our abilities to know?

The answer is different according to the type of philosophical realism in question. Therefore, in this article we will explore the theories that exist and their most influential representatives. Join us!

What is philosophical realism?

Philosophical realism is a current of thought that supports the independent existence of the world and objects. Therefore, the subject who perceives and knows them is not so important, depending on the type of realism. Its main representatives were Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Bertrand Russell and Mario Bunge, among others.

One of the main characteristics of this realism is that it takes as its object of study the closest reality known to the philosopher. On the other hand, said reality is considered objectively, that is, as it is, without adding the subjectivity of the researcher.

Likewise, its method is direct observation and, ultimately, It seeks to justify the relationship between subject and object or between the individual who perceives it and the world.

Types of philosophical realism

Throughout history, different types of realism have been developed, according to the degree of prominence that the individual has with respect to reality. In this sense, we describe them below.

metaphysical realism

Metaphysical realism, also called exaggerated or absolute, was postulated for the first time to designate universal or general ideas. The first great exponent of this current was Plato, who, through his theory of ideas, maintained that they are the only real and true thing.

So, We understand ideas as the prototype or model of the things that exist in the world we live in. What is notable about this position is that such ideas are intelligible objects and, therefore, can be known and thought about.

In the same line, Thomas Aquinas argued that the only supreme and absolute reality is divine ideas. These are also models by which God created everything that exists.

However, there is a big difference with respect to Plato, since these universal and divine ideas allow us to truly know bodies. Thomas Aquinas’ argument is that there would be no concepts if they do not express what bodies are, as highlighted in an article in the magazine Philosophical Yearbook.

epistemological realism

Epistemological realism studies the ways in which human knowledge is explained to account for external reality. Considers that knowledge can be achieved without the need for a consciousness that thinks about it according to its own categories. Some of its most prominent representatives were Bertrand Russell, GE Moore and Mario Bunge.

The question about the possibility of knowing the world objectively and independently of human cognitive abilities was answered by Bertrand Russell. The philosopher put language at the center of his thinking.

In this way, he alleged that we can state certain knowledge of the world through true sentences. However, this is not certain knowledge, but probable.

Moderate realism

Another type of realism is moderate. Its main exponent was Aristotle, who pointed out that essences or universals are intelligible structures. They constitute and are present in each individual thing that we perceive in the world.

Therefore, from this perspective, universality is found in the concept or essence, as Plato referred to. However, this universality is present in sensible things. It is the human mind that is responsible for capturing this common structure of reality.

Naive realism

Such realism immediately and uncritically accepts a reality beyond the subject and even independently of it. This position considers that knowledge is a reproduction of reality, That is, our senses allow a precise and accurate understanding of it.

critical realism

Critical realism maintains that the knowledge we produce must be examined to verify whether it conforms to reality. Besides, Each of us adds our share of subjectivity to what we know. Therefore, this understanding is not entirely objective.

Critical realism considers that the knowledge we achieve is approximate and that our cognitive abilities are insufficient on their own.

scientific realism

This realism presents science as the best way to know reality. Based on this, an article published by the magazine Ergo Sum Science indicates that the world and its objects are explained and described through scientific theories.

One of the postulates of scientific realism asserts that the world addressed by scientific theories is independent of our thinking. Furthermore, reality can be known in its observable and unobservable dimensions.

Finally, the concept of truth becomes problematic, which is why it establishes a correspondence between statements and facts. It must be considered that The descriptions we make about reality under this theory are an approximation of it; so it cannot reach a degree of absolute certainty.

Philosophical realism vs. idealism

One of the main adversaries of philosophical realism was idealism. In its absolute version, This theory supports the primacy of reason over reality. It had its beginnings with the French philosopher René Descartes, who considered as truth only that which comes from the individual’s own thinking.

Another great exponent of idealism was the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. For him it was impossible for human beings to know reality itself. This means that essences or universals cannot be known.

In fact, the subject, with its own knowledge structures, is the one who will be able to capture reality and its objects limited to their own capabilities.

Therefore, Idealism as a philosophical theory defends that there is a dependence between the existence of objects and the mind of the subject who thinks them. This type of philosophy gives great importance to concepts such as consciousness, ideas, thought and subject in the process of knowledge.

Reality vs. individual

In this article we explore the characteristics of philosophical realism and the most important types of theories of it. In this aspect, the world can be considered as an independent reality or we can discover its objective truth through our own rational abilities.

Such efforts attempt to grasp the essential truth of the world’s existence. Whether through the primacy of the individual over reality or its independence, the background is always understand our environment and aspire to its truth.

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