What is Idealism?

Idealism is a philosophical current that is opposed to materialism. He asserts that in

order to comprehend reality, it is important to consider concepts, thinking subjects,
and thought itself, in addition to the object itself as observed by the senses.

Throughout history, Idealism has had a significant impact on philosophical thought. It

encouraged thinkers to doubt their own perceptions in order to broaden their grasp of
reality.

Five types of idealistic currents are distinguished:

1. Platonic Idealism- Plato was one of the first philosophers to speak idealism.
He contended that concepts represent a supersensible realm outside of being a
world that can be intuited intellectually as well as through the senses. The true world
is discovered via the use of one’s brain and reason.

2. Objective Idealism - For the philosophical variant, ideas exist on their own and
can only be discovered through experience.

3. Subjective Idealism - This current's philosophers included Descartes, Berkeley,

Kant, and Fichte. They contended that thoughts exist only in the subject's mind, not
in an independent external universe. This viewpoint holds that concepts are subject
to the subjectivity of the being who perceives them.

4. German Idealism - It arose in Germany, and its main theorists were Kant, Fichte,
Schelling, and Hegel. It considers that the genuine nature of the object occurs as a
result of subjective mental activity, which sees it as something real rather than
something abstract. It was distinguished by emphasizing cognition above feeling,
elevating the relationship between the finite and infinite, and generating a creative
impulse in man (even poets were affected by this current's philosophers).

5. Transcendental Idealism - the philosopher Kant was its main representative and
argued that, for knowledge to take place, the presence of two variables is necessary:
 Phenomenon - Direct manifestation of the senses, that is, the object of
an empirical observation.
  Noumenon - it was is thought, which does not correspond to a
perception of the senses. It can be known through intellectual intuition.

Characteristic of Idealism
 It requires the intellect that allows it to form a certain idea of the things that it
perceives through the senses.
 Reasoned is not identified with the infinite or material but reaches the infinite,
such as the conception of the existence of god.
 The way to know reality, that id, the objects themselves, is through intellect nd
through experience.
 It is not satisfied with that the senses apparently perceive but is linked to a
higher reality of the consciousness of being.

Representatives of Idealism

Plato (427-347 BC)

Greek philosopher. Socrates was his teacher and later, Aristotle his
disciple. He was a prominent thinker whose work had a great
influence an Western philosophy of the old Greece. Some of the
most outstanding contributions of Plato were:

 The theory of ideas - It is the axis of Platonic philosophy.

It is not formulated as such in any of his works but was
approached from different aspects in his works The
Republic, Phaedo and Phaedrus.
 The dialect - It is part of the logic that studies probable
reasoning, but not of the proof. It is related to the art of
debating, persuading and reasoning different ideas.
 The anamnesis -It is a term used by Plato to refer the
methodical search for knowledge. It has to do with the
memory of the soul about an experience that it has had in
a previous incarnation..
Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

Also known as Renatus Cartesius in Latin, his contribution are

regarded as a revolution in science and modern philosophy.
Descartes, Rene. (1596-1650, La Haye en Touraine). Renatus
Cartesius, also known as Renatus Cartesius in Latin. His
contributions are regarded as a revolution in science and modern
philosophy. He distinguished himself from other thinkers because
his goal was to discover the path or method to knowledge and truth,
whereas other philosophers were based on pre-established currents
that defined what the world is, the soul, the human being, and so on,
thereby limiting the ideas they could achieve. Descartes reveals the
method's discourse through four rules:

 Evidence - Admit a thing as true only if it is known clearly

an does not raise doubts. This contradicts Aristotle’s
principle of identity, where reason is sufficient to make an
idea concrete,
 Analysis - Separate the possible difficulties or unknowns
to think about them until reaching their final components.
 Synthesis - Order your thoughts according to the degree
of complexity.
 Enumeration - Review each instance of the methodology
more than one thoroughly to make to make sure nothing
is missed.

Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804):

Kant, a Prussian philosopher and key figure in the cultural and

intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment, establishes that
the problem of philosophy is "to know if reason is capable of
knowing," from which the variant of idealism known as "criticism" or
"transcendental idealism" is derived: Kant believes that man is an
autonomous being who expresses his freedom through reason and
does not know things in themselves but sees a projection of himself
in the knowledge of things. The main concept of his works are:

 Transcendental idealism - In the process of knowledge,

the experience of knowing the object influences reality
and this experience is conditioned by time and place.
 The human being at the center of the universe - The
subject who knows, does so actively and modifies the
reality that he is knowing.
 Beyong being - There are universal and necessary
conditions, prior to the experience of being.

Idealism in Education

Idealism in education is a philosophy that stresses the importance of developing. The

intellectual and moral qualities of the students. It emphasizes the role of the teacher
as a model of excellence and stresses the importance of a well-rounded, holistic
education.

Definition of Idealism

Idealism in Education is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of

ideas, principles, and values in the educational process. It advocates for ha holistic
approach that addresses the needs of the whole person, including the intellect,
emotions, and spirit. Idealist educators believe that teachers are key figures in the
educational process, inspiring students to pursue knowledge and truth. The
curriculum should promote intellectual and moral growth, foster critical thinking,
creativity, and moral reasoning, and encourage students to reflect on their beliefs and
values.

Idealism Methods of Education

Idealism emphasizes the importance of a holistic education that fosters intellectual
and moral growth in students. Some of the key methods of education in idealism
include.

 Lectures and discussions: Idealism places a strong emphasis on the role of

the teacher in education. Lectures and discussions are common methods of
education in idealism, as they provide students with the opportunity to learn
from the knowledgeable and wise teachers. Through lectures and
discussions, teachers can help students develop their critical thinking skills,
and encourage them to question assumptions and explore new ideas and
perspectives.
 Socratic method: The Socratic method is key method of education in
idealism. This method involves the use of questioning to stimulate critical
thinking and intellectual inquiry. Teachers ask students a series of questions
that re designed to challenge their assumptions. And encourage them to
think deeply about a particular subject.
 Reflection and self-examination: Idealism places a strong emphasis on the
development of the whole person. This includes the cultivation of self-
awareness and reflection. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own
beliefs. And values and to develop a strong sense of personal responsibility.
 Role modeling:Idealism emphasizes the importance of the teacher as a role
model fro students. Teachers are expected to be knowledgeable , wise, and
virtuous. And to provide guidance and support to their students. They are
seen as models of intellectual and more excellence. And are expected to
inspire their students to pursue knowledge and truth.
 Experiential learning: Idealism emphasizes the importance of experiential
learning. Students are encouraged to engaged in hands-on learning
experiences. Such as projects, experiments, and field trips. These
experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply what they have
learned in the classroom to real-world situations and to develop their
problem solving.

Some examples of idealism in Education are:

1. Emphasizing the development of moral values and character formation in

students.
2. Encouraging students to pursue their own interests and passions and to
cultivate their creativity and imagination.
3. Providing students with opportunities to explore the great ideas and works of
literature, history, philosophy, and religion that have shaped human
civilization.
4. Fostering a sense of community and social responsibility among students
and teachers.
5. Using methods such as dialogue, discussion, reflection, and inquiry to
stimulate students’ critical thinking and reasoning skills.