So you wanna’ be a Realist?

(The So You Wanna’ Be an… series is a series of posts introducing some of the basic philosophical systems that have influenced modern secular thought and a brief Christian critique of each one. There are five posts in this series)

Realism has its roots in the work of Plato’s student, Aristotle. His work had a huge influence on the Enlightenment philosophers and on the founding fathers of the United States.

1) The metaphysics for the realist diverges from that of the idealist because they believe universal principles can be arrived at through the study of the physical world. The ultimate reality is the physical world, the world of the senses.

2) The epistemology of the realist is connected to this metaphysical belief, therefore truth can be arrived at through scientific enquiry. It is through the observation of real, physical objects that truth can be arrived at. For the realist, the universe is constant, so concrete truth can be arrived at through the study of the physical universe.

3) The axiology of the universe can be described as conformity to reality. Ethics can be arrived at through the study of the universe and conformity to the natural law that is discovered there. Beauty is defined as conformity to the way things actually are. Something is beautiful if it reflects reality.

4) For the realist, education is about observing the natural world as it really is. Students are able to come to know reality through sensory observation, smelling, touching, seeing, tasting and hearing. Teachers are supposed to give accurate information about reality to the students as quickly and efficiently as possible. Science is the center of the realist curriculum and mathematics is important because it explains the laws of nature and the universe.

5) Critique: There are important strengths in the realist system, especially in its critiques of the idealist system. The realist is very concerned with the physical world and the daily realities that entails. The Bible is full of practical advice for simple people that the idealist perspective sometimes overlooks. It’s also true that there is a moral law revealed in nature and that people will be held accountable for not finding it (Romans 1:20-25). Many true things can be discovered through observing the natural world (Job 38-41).

The Bible critiques the realist philosophy in many ways as well. For starters the realist philosophers react too strongly against Idealism and abandon much truth in that system. Ultimate Truth cannot be found apart from revelation and that Truth is Jesus revealed in the Word of God (John 17:17). The other problem is that there is no standard of truth to compare things by, so realists are forced to say that whatever a society deems ethical is ethical. They have no grounds for condemning atrocities like abortion. For the Christian, the Bible is the standard of Truth (2 Timothy 3:16). Finally, everything that is true cannot be taught through sensory experience. How do you teach someone what faith is through observation? Christians know what faith is because it is revealed through the Bible (Hebrews 11:1)