It's impossible to pinpoint a single creator of idealism, as it developed over centuries through the work of numerous philosophers.
Early Influences:
- Plato (428–348 BCE): Often considered a foundational figure, his theory of Forms emphasized the existence of a realm of perfect, unchanging ideas that are more real than the physical world we experience.
- Socrates (470–399 BCE): Though he didn't write any works, his emphasis on reason and questioning the nature of reality laid the groundwork for later idealist thought.
- Plotinus (205–270 CE): His Neoplatonism expanded upon Plato's ideas, emphasizing the divine and spiritual nature of reality.
The Development of Idealism:
- George Berkeley (1685–1753): His "immaterialism" argued that only minds and ideas exist, rejecting the notion of a material world independent of perception.
- Immanuel Kant (1724–1804): He proposed that our minds structure our experience of reality, emphasizing the role of reason and understanding in shaping our perception.
- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831): He saw history as a process of unfolding reason, arguing that the ultimate reality is a rational, spiritual whole.
Modern Idealism:
- F.H. Bradley (1846–1924): He argued that reality is a unified whole, rejecting the possibility of individual, independent entities.
- Josiah Royce (1855–1916): He emphasized the importance of community and the role of the absolute self in shaping reality.
While idealism can be traced back to ancient Greece, it evolved and diversified throughout history, with various philosophers contributing to its development.
