realistismi

Realistismi refers to a broad set of doctrines and movements that foreground realism as a central approach across disciplines, including philosophy, art, literature, and political theory. The term, derived from the Italian realismo, denotes a concern with portraying the world as it is, rather than as it ought to be, and with recognizing the existence of a reality independent of perception.

In philosophy, realism is the view that some parts of reality exist independently of minds. Varieties include metaphysical realism, which asserts mind-independent objects, and scientific realism, which holds that science reveals real structures and mechanisms. Naive realism suggests perceptual content tracks reality directly, while various forms of anti-realism reject this claim.

In the arts and literature, realism emerged in the 19th century as a reaction to Romanticism and romanticized depictions of life. Realist works aim for verisimilitude by focusing on ordinary people, everyday situations, and social detail, often with critical or investigative intent. In Italian culture, Verismo is a related strand emphasizing the lives of common people. Notable realist writers include Balzac, Flaubert, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Zola; in painting, Gustave Courbet is a key figure.

In political theory, realism emphasizes power, national interest, and pragmatic calculations in international relations and statecraft, in contrast to liberal or utopian ideals. Realist strategies center on balances of power, security, and the constraints of anarchy.

Realistismi as a label thus covers several traditions that share a commitment to depicting or explaining reality as it is, while recognizing ongoing debates about the scope and limits of realism.