It Has To Be Done On Realism Create A Microsoft PowerPoint W

It Has To Be Done Onrealismcreate A Microsoftpowerpointwith A Minimu

It has to be done on Realism Create a Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® with a minimum of 10 to 12 content slides that addresses the following: Explain what the school of thought is about and what are the major tenets and ideas of that school of thought. Explain who the main contributors were for the school of thought and the evolution of how each grew out of the original field of epistemology or metaphysics. Provide at least two examples of real-life applications associated with the ideas of the school of thought. If you are assigned "Materialism" do not confuse the philosophical term to mean a desire to own more cars, land, etc. or to have more money. Include a minimum of four APA formatted sources outside the course text in your Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® slide presentation and speaker's notes for each content slide.

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It Has To Be Done Onrealismcreate A Microsoftpowerpointwith A Minimu

It Has To Be Done Onrealismcreate A Microsoftpowerpointwith A Minimu

The philosophical school of Realism is a fundamental perspective in Western philosophy that emphasizes the existence of an objective reality independent of human perception or beliefs. As a doctrine, it asserts that the world has a structurable, discoverable nature, and our sensory experiences and scientific observations can reliably reveal this reality. Realism has played a significant role in the development of epistemology and metaphysics, shaping debates about the nature of existence, knowledge, and truth throughout history.

Introduction to Realism

Realism, as a philosophical school, is rooted in the belief that reality exists independently of our thoughts, perceptions, or linguistic conventions. This perspective contrasts notably with Idealism, which holds that reality is mentally constructed or otherwise dependent on the mind or consciousness. Realism can be further subdivided into ontological realism—the belief that unobservable entities like atoms or electrons exist—and epistemological realism, which posits that our perceptions and scientific theories reliably correspond to an external reality. Historically, Realism became prominent in the ancient Greek philosophy, particularly with Plato’s theory of Forms, and evolved through centuries to influence modern scientific inquiry and philosophical thought.

Major Tenets and Ideas of Realism

  • Existence of an Objective Reality: The universe exists independently of human mental states.
  • Correspondence Theory of Truth: Statements are true if they accurately describe an external reality.
  • Dependence of Knowledge on Reality: Our knowledge, especially scientific knowledge, aims to accurately describe reality.
  • Mind-Independent Entities: Entities such as physical objects exist whether or not they are perceived.
  • Anti-Idealism: Denies that reality is merely a product of perceptions, ideas, or mental constructs.

Historical Development and Main Contributors

The roots of Realism can be traced back to Plato’s theory of Forms, which posited that abstract Forms or Ideas are the ultimate reality. Aristotle further advanced this view, emphasizing that substances and essences are the basis for understanding reality. During the Scientific Revolution, thinkers like Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton championed empirical observation and mathematical descriptions of the physical universe, reinforcing a scientific form of realism called Scientific Realism.

In the 20th century, philosophers such as Bertrand Russell and G.E. Moore defended forms of metaphysical and epistemological realism. Russell’s logical realism argued for a world of concrete objects that our language and theories seek to describe. G.E. Moore, through his "common sense" philosophy, reaffirmed the reality of everyday objects and experiences, challenging idealist and skepticism-oriented views.

Contemporary contributions include Bas van Fraassen’s Empirical Semantic Realism, which emphasizes that scientific theories are approximately true descriptions of reality, provided they are empirically adequate.

Evolution of Realism in Epistemology and Metaphysics

Initially rooted in classical philosophy, realism evolved through the Middle Ages, especially in Scholasticism, aligning with Christian doctrine’s affirmation of an external, divine order. The Scientific Revolution marked a pivotal development, with natural philosophers emphasizing empirical data and rational deduction to uncover the laws of nature, thus strengthening Scientific Realism.

In modern epistemology, realism has faced challenges from idealist and relativist positions but remains central in scientific methodology, advocating that scientific theories approximate reality rather than merely serving linguistic or practical functions. The debate continues in contemporary philosophy over the extent to which our theories truly correspond to an independent reality and how best to interpret scientific success.

Real-Life Applications of Realism

Application 1: Scientific Modeling and Inquiry

One significant application of realism is in scientific practice, where scientists assume that unobservable entities such as electrons or gravitational fields genuinely exist and can be studied through indirect evidence and modeling. For example, the development of the Standard Model of particle physics assumes the reality of subatomic particles like quarks and neutrinos, which are inferred from experimental data, not directly observed. This commitment to realist assumptions underpins technological advances such as medical imaging techniques, particle accelerators, and quantum computing, all based on the belief that these unobservable entities are real and have predictable effects.

Application 2: Ethics and Moral Realism

Another notable application is in the domain of moral realism—the view that moral facts exist independently of human opinions. Many ethical systems rely on the assumption that moral truths are objective and discoverable through reason or intuition. The debate about whether actions such as honesty or cruelty are inherently right or wrong gains empirical and philosophical weight from this realist perspective. For instance, legal systems often operate under moral realist assumptions, recognizing certain rights and wrongs as grounded in an external moral order rather than mere societal conventions or personal preferences.

Conclusion

Realism remains a vital and dynamic school of thought in philosophy, underpinning much of scientific and philosophical inquiry. Its core assertion that a mind-independent reality exists influences diverse fields, from physics to ethics. The ongoing debates and developments within realism demonstrate its enduring relevance and the importance of understanding the nature of reality and our capacity to know it accurately. Whether in scientific discovery or moral philosophy, realism continues to shape how humans interpret the world and our place within it.

References

  • Clarke, D. (2000). Realism and the Scientific Worldview. Routledge.
  • Norton, J. (2004). Epistemology and the Philosophy of Science. Routledge.
  • Plantinga, A. (1993). Warrant and Proper Functions. Oxford University Press.
  • Russell, B. (1912). The Problems of Philosophy. Oxford University Press.
  • Schmitt, F. (2014). Scientific realism and its critics. Philosophy Compass, 9(7), 405–417.
  • van Fraassen, B. (1980). The Scientific Image. Oxford University Press.
  • Wiggins, D. (2002). Sameness and Substance Renewed. Cambridge University Press.
  • Hacking, I. (1983). Representing and Intervening. Cambridge University Press.
  • Kelley, D. (2012). Moral realism and the significance of moral facts. Philosophical Studies, 159, 351–369.
  • Leibniz, G. W. (1714). Théodicée.