Was ist Idealismus? Philosophisches Kopfkino (3sat)

How do we really know, that that
which we see,

touch and taste really exists?

What is reality?

The objects or how we perceive them?

Do we see the world as its is,
or is the world what it is,

because we perceive it as such?

Let's imagine the following:

We are in a cave, deep underground.

There is no visible daylight.

In this cave, people are tied
to chairs in such a way

that they can only look at the cave wall.

From the time
they are born,

they are shown black-and-white
movies continuously.

The audience believes that the film
is a true reflection of reality.

What sounds like an experiment
from the 3rd Reich,

is actually a 2000-year-old mind game,

conceived by Socrates' star pupil:

Plato!

Now suppose,

that one of these bold youngsters
actually escapes from the cave

and sees the three-dimensional, colourful
world for the first time.

How would he feel?

Probably similar to the brave Keanu Reeves
in the "Matrix",

in the scene where he wakes up in
real world for the first time.

And worst of all,

if our ancient Neo were to
return to his friends

and tell them that the world
as they know it

isn't real…

then he would be dismissed as a madman.

According to Plato, our reality
is based on 'ideas'

Objects, and how we experience them,
are only their images.

However, for Plato the term 'idea'
represented more.

It was about the essence of all things,

that which we saw
as part of an ideal world

and that which we recalled from memory.

What he pioneered with this is a doctrine

called "idealism",

to which Leibnitz and Kant
later also subscribed to.

However, this does not mean
diligently donating

to victims of natural disasters

or serving soup to the homeless
at Christmas.

Just as the real meaning of "materialism",

isn't the "My house, My boat, My
investment advisor" song sung by Madonna

or the meaning of the Yuppie Lifestyle.

Materialism is the philosophical
countermovement to idealism.

Idealism sees the origin
of reality in the "idea",

whereas with materialism "matter"
is decisive.

Thus, reality arises due to the
effect of the environment

and not by the way in which
we perceive it.

To the question "What is?"
materialism answers:

Only matter.

The world exists how it is

and we must conform to its laws.

Sounds bleak in the long run, though,
doesn't it?

So, are we just the ball
in a cosmic pinball machine then?

So where does reality lie?

Within us or out there?

This game ends in a draw