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[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Idealismsculpture_2.jpg|right|frame|<center>fr. Warsaw, Poland</center>]]
[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Idealismsculpture_2.jpg|right|frame|<center>fr. Warsaw, Poland</center>]]
''Idealism'' is any system or theory that maintains that the "real" is of the nature of thought or that the object of external perception consists of ideas. It can also be the tendency to represent things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are, with emphasis on values.
'''Idealism''' is any system or theory that maintains that the "real" is of the nature of thought or that the object of external perception consists of ideas. It can also be the tendency to represent things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are, with emphasis on values.
The approach to idealism by Western [[philosophy]] has been different from that of East. In Western thought ''the ideal'' relates to direct [[knowledge]] of [[qualia|subjective]] mental ideas, or images. It is usually juxtaposed with ''realism'' in which the real is said to have absolute existence prior to and independent of our knowledge. Epistemological idealists (such as [[Kant]]) might insist that the only things which can be directly ''known for certain'' are ideas. In Eastern thought, as reflected in Hindu idealism, the concept of ''idealism'' takes on the meaning of [[higher consciousness]], essentially the living consciousness of an all-pervading ''[[God]]'', as the basis of all [[phenomena]]. A type of Asian idealism is [[Consciousness]]-only.
The approach to idealism by Western [[philosophy]] has been different from that of East. In Western thought ''the ideal'' relates to direct [[knowledge]] of [[qualia|subjective]] mental ideas, or images. It is usually juxtaposed with ''realism'' in which the real is said to have absolute existence prior to and independent of our knowledge. Epistemological idealists (such as [[Kant]]) might insist that the only things which can be directly ''known for certain'' are ideas. In Eastern thought, as reflected in Hindu idealism, the concept of ''idealism'' takes on the meaning of [[higher consciousness]], essentially the living consciousness of an all-pervading ''[[God]]'', as the basis of all [[phenomena]]. A type of Asian idealism is [[Consciousness]]-only.