Idealism

Summary

Dominique Pagani defines idealism in contrast to realism: whereas realism holds that the world exists objectively, idealism holds that only thought exists and that reality is merely representation. He specifies that, for idealism, the external world is only a representation of the subject, and he distinguishes three moments in it: subjective, objective and then absolute idealism1. He does not simply reject it. He recalls that Marx credits idealism with having understood the construction of reality2. He also cites Lenin, for whom the idea of the good in Hegel is at once the most idealist and the most materialist passage3. Finally, he turns the charge against a certain way of opposing matter to mind: this opposition is already idealist, since it presupposes a mind that would owe nothing to matter4.

1. 1“I is another”, or contradictory identity12 Dec 2023 · 40:27
2. 2H for Hegel22 Dec 2014 · 9:03
3. 3H for Hegel22 Dec 2014 · 13:02
4. 4Worldliness in Clouscard: Aragon and the positivity of the negative29 Jun 2023 · 1:42:16

Summary produced automatically from 5 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.