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Realism is viewing the world in terms of hard evidence that is uncolored by human characteristics such as imagination, creativity, emotion or culture. The following are illustrative examples.
Realistic OptimismRealistic optimism is the use of the imagination to solve problems. This is based on the view that creativity and calculated risk taking are useful tools for dealing with uncertainty and creating value. A realistic optimist uses any data they can find but is also willing to proceed with actions in an environment of ambiguity.
PessimismIn everyday language, the term realism is often used to indicate the elimination of imagination or optimism from thinking processes. This is more or less synonymous with pessimism.Defensive PessimismDefensive pessimism is the use of optimism to generate ideas and the use of pessimism to validate ideas. Balanced RealismRealism is often presented as being a balance between optimism and pessimism. This implies an individual has the ability to use both imaginative approaches to thinking balanced with evidence-based thinking.
Naive RealismNaive realism is the belief that what we experience with our senses such as sight is the real universe. For example, if we see a beautiful butterfly then it is beautiful in reality and this in not just some human sense of color perception and aesthetics. Likewise, if we see an ugly thing, a naive realist would say this is actually ugly as opposed to being a human judgement.Moral RealismMoral realism is the idea that ethical principles reflect the real nature of the universe and aren't just human constructs.
PragmatismPragmatists reject the notion that it is important to understand reality and instead view thought as a tool for prediction, problem solving, decision making and action. For example, a pragmatist might say that a butterfly is beautiful if most people believe so and it doesn't matter if it is beautiful in reality.Artistic RealismArtistic realism is an attempt to capture things as they are perceived by the senses without incorporating any products of the artist's mind such as style or imagination.|
Type | | Definition (1) | Viewing the world in terms of hard evidence that is uncolored by human characteristics. | Definition (2) | The belief that human senses and measurement can document facts that are real and universal. | Related Concepts | |
Thinking
This is the complete list of articles we have written about thinking.
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An overview of thinking with examples.
The definition of introspection with examples.
An overview of critical thinking with examples.
The definition of skepticism with examples.
The definition of abstract thinking with examples.
The definition of imagination with examples.
The definition of visual thinking with examples.
The definition of abstract concept with examples.
The definition of pragmatism with examples.
Rational thought is often somewhat logical but includes factors such as emotion, imagination, culture, language and social conventions.
The definition of benefit of doubt with examples.
The definition of intrapersonal with examples.
The definition of paradox with examples.
An overview of logical arguments with examples.
The definition of rational choice theory with examples.
The definition of reflective thinking with examples.
The definition of reason with examples.
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