Idealism And Materialism

Question 1

Idealism

Answer 1

Ideas are more important than matter
Ideas can give a direct knowledge of objects and events
- Plato: property among matter are universal, Forms
- George Berkeley(1685-1753): Physical objects do not exist independent of the mind (subjective idealism)
Esse est percipi” (“To be is to be perceived” )
Ideas are the determinant factors of (political) events

Question 2

Materialism

Answer 2

Matter is the most important entity to understand our world
Thomas Hobbes: World is consisted of physical matter in motion; and our thoughts and actions are just effects of physical forces beyond our control
Marxist materialism:
“The ideal is nothing else than the material world reflected by the human mind, and translated into forms of thought.” –Karl Marx, Capital, Vol.
Key argument: Material factors (economy, class position, etc) shapes ideas, which in turn leads to (Political) outcomes
Material circumstances are the causal factors of (political) events

Question 3

Similarities btwn Idealism and Materialism

Answer 3

• From idealism, we look how ideas can shape political outcomes
• From Materialism, we look at how material circumstances shaped political outcomes
  -(‘It is not consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness’ (Karl Marx))
• Can an event be fully conceptually grasped by ideas or material circumstances?
• Materialism shares with idealism ‘conceptual ambition’ to fully reveal the inner nature and logical links of a political event, supposedly revealing its true reasons

Question 4

Matter and Ideas in ‘Post-truth’ times

Answer 4

How to distinguish between true facts and misinformation?
In times of high intangible products & images, as well as, advancement of information technology: Ideas have taken dominance over matter
- persuasion more important than facts?
- perception shapes reality