realism

Realism is a broad term used across philosophy, art, literature, and social theory to describe commitments to an objective reality that exists independently of perception or language. It commonly refers to attempts to describe, depict, or explain the world as it is, not as it appears through bias or illusion.

In philosophy, realism holds that aspects of the world are mind-independent and that objects, properties, and relations exist whether or not they are perceived. Variants include scientific realism, which holds theories aim to truth about observable and unobservable aspects of reality, and moral realism, which asserts that ethical claims can be true or false. Realism is often contrasted with idealism, anti-realism, or constructivism.

Realism in art and literature emerged in the 19th century as a reaction to Romanticism, emphasizing accurate, non-idealized depictions of everyday life and social conditions. In painting, realism pursued verisimilitude; in literature, writers such as Balzac, Flaubert, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky depicted contemporary life with social detail and psychological depth.

In international relations, realism (political realism) analyzes power, national interest, and state behavior in an anarchic system, emphasizing balance of power and pragmatic diplomacy.

In science, realism maintains that the world described by science is real and that theoretical entities are part of reality. Anti-realist positions challenge this, and debates continue about the status of unobservable entities.

Realism in film and theater stresses verisimilitude and plausible depiction of everyday life; movements such as Italian neorealism sought naturalistic styles with on-location shooting and non-professional actors.