Real and ideal - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Real and ideal, seemingly simple concepts, underpin the entire edifice of human thought, a binary lens through which we perceive existence and construct meaning. What appears straightforward—the tangible versus the imagined—quickly dissolves into a complex interplay of perception, aspiration, and inherent limitations, raising the question: is reality merely a collective ideal?
The tension between the real and the ideal permeates history, echoing through the philosophies of Plato (c. 428-348 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322 BCE). Plato’s Theory of Forms posits an ideal realm of perfect prototypes, while our perceived world is merely a shadow of these ideals, prompting a quest for truth beyond sensory experience. Simultaneously, Aristotle, Plato's celebrated student, grounded in empirical observation, sought understanding within the physical realm, laying the foundation for naturalistic philosophy. These two titans, often considered to be the founders of philosophy as such, inaugurated a timeless debate on how we ascertain the real and relate it to our ideals. The interplay and dialectic between what we percieve and how we imagine permeates all our thinking, even down to present day issues in moral philosophy, philosophical realism, and experimental ethics.
Throughout the ages, the dynamic between real and ideal has ignited revolutions, fueled artistic expression, and shaped ethical frameworks. The concept of justice, for example, persistently grapples with the chasm between its ideal form—impartiality, equity, and fairness—and its often-flawed manifestation in human institutions. What is a moral dilemma, like the trolley problem, but a clash between an ideal of moral action and the reality of its consequences? Consider the Enlightenment, wherein lofty ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity spurred social upheaval, revealing the stubborn resistance of the real to conform to the ideal. Similarly, consider Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), who described the ideals of freedom and autonomy as transcendental ideas which transcend our capacity for realization and which are, in fact, beyond the human capacity to ever fully comprehend in principle, yet still necessary for practical reason and moral deliberation. The real world is not a perfect representation of this ideal.
Today, the allure and challenge of reconciling the real and ideal persists, particularly in the accelerating world of technology. From virtual realities blurring the lines between physical presence and digital abstraction to the promise (and peril) of artificial intelligence mirroring human capabilities, we're continuously forced to reconsider the nature of reality and the aspirations that drive our technological advancements. Can we ever achieve a truly fair and unbiased artificial intelligence, or will our own inherent cognitive bias inevitably taint even our most idealistic creations? The question remains: is the pursuit of the ideal a utopian aspiration, or a pragmatic necessity for navigating the complexities of a world constantly negotiating between what is and what could be?