Idealism Vs. Realism
Difference between Idealism and Realism: – In order for us to be able to differentiate between idealism and realism, we must first know the meaning of the two concepts.
Idealism is when the human being inclines to see things in an ideal or perfect way.
Realism, on the other hand, tends towards a more pragmatic and realistic view of a situation.
The two concepts can, in simple terms, be viewed from different perspectives,
but idealism focuses on “what could be” and realism focuses on “what it really is.”
Difference between Idealism and Realism
These commonly accepted definitions of these terms have their origin in the uses of philosophical terms.
In philosophy, when one speaks of the problems of perception,
idealism is a theory that states that our reality is determined by our thoughts and ideas;
while realism, for its part, posits that reality has an absolute existence independent of our thoughts, ideas, and even consciousness.
Using the classic test of whether the glass is half empty or half full as an example,
we see that idealists tend to be positive thinkers, i.e., they see the glass half full.
Among the realists, many do not hold the opposite or negative view but see the situation through less hopeful eyes.
Realists are often stereotypes as rational ones who think carefully and weigh their options before making a decision.
In this sense, realists often make safer and more practical decisions compared to idealists, who may be willing to make riskier decisions.
These perspectives also have an impact on how individuals treat success and failure in their lives.
An idealist who is always in search of the “good” could be less affected by setbacks than a realist.
However, being lost in a world of unattainable fantasies and goals may not always be a good thing.
A realist, on the other hand, finds it best to set achievable goals and follow his search in a planned way.
Key differences between Idealism and Realism
- Idealism tends to look at things from a positive and hopeful perspective.
- Realism, although not always opposed or seeing black things, does focus on present reality and its vision is usually less hopeful.
- The idealists have the fantasy and set goals unattainable, while the realists think carefully when making a decision and devise goals that can reach and that are useful.
