Ontology Questions
Ontological realism and ontological idealism are two contrasting philosophical positions regarding the nature of reality.
Ontological realism posits that reality exists independently of our perception or understanding of it. It asserts that there is an objective, external reality that exists regardless of our subjective experiences or interpretations. According to ontological realism, entities and properties have an existence that is separate from our thoughts or beliefs about them.
On the other hand, ontological idealism argues that reality is fundamentally dependent on our minds or consciousness. It suggests that the existence of entities and properties is contingent upon our perception or conceptualization of them. In ontological idealism, reality is seen as a product of our mental processes, and it is subjective in nature.
In summary, the main difference between ontological realism and ontological idealism lies in their perspectives on the relationship between reality and our perception or consciousness. Realism asserts an objective reality independent of our minds, while idealism posits a reality that is dependent on our subjective experiences.