The word “idealism” comes from the German “Idealismus,” which was coined in the late 18th century to describe a philosophical movement that emphasized the importance of ideas or mental concepts in shaping reality. The term is derived from the Greek word “idea,” which means “form,” “pattern,” or “concept,” and is the same root as the word “idea”.
In philosophy, “idealism” refers to the belief that reality is ultimately composed of ideas or mental concepts, rather than material objects. Idealists hold that the world as we know it is a product of our ideas and perceptions, rather than an objective reality that exists independently of us. There are many different types of idealism, including subjective idealism, objective idealism, and transcendental idealism, each offering a different perspective on the nature of reality and the relationship between the mind and the external world.
Some of the most notable philosophers associated with idealism include Plato, who posited the existence of a realm of Forms or Ideas that is more real than the physical world; George Berkeley, who argued for subjective idealism; Immanuel Kant, who developed a form of idealism known as transcendental idealism; Friedrich Nietzsche, who rejected traditional metaphysical systems in favor of a more individualistic form of idealism; and Josiah Royce, who developed a form of idealism known as absolute idealism.
These philosophers and many others have contributed to the development and refinement of idealism as a philosophical movement, and the concept of idealism continues to be a subject of debate and discussion in philosophy and other fields to this day.
