Idealism is possibly the oldest Western philosophy we know and study in the present day. It traces back at least to Ancient Greece and Plato. It was once the dominant philosophy of Western culture and is still influential today.
Idealism naturally takes its name from the root word idea. Idealists believe that ideas are reality. They typically reject the material world because it is ever changing and instead focus on ideas that are enduring (Ozmon & Cravers, 2008).
Possibly the most famous idealist is Plato. “Plato is largely known for his writings in which Socrates is the …show more content…
As Ozmon & Cravers (2008) explain, the thesis is the foundation of all thinking. The thesis is an idea, or argument, that can be supported with evidence. The antithesis would be the counter argument to the original thesis. The antithesis presented by the antagonist will force the first person to reexamine their position and come up with a way to defend it. For the dialectic to be successful, the antagonist must be somebody that is truly interested in seeing the process work. If so, the dialogue that results, will lead to advancing or relinquishing ideas. One of the drawbacks to implementing a style such as the dialectic in our schools is the need for life experiences to make it work. In order for a person to engage fully in the process, they must have an understanding of the problem that exists and its ramifications. Often, our students do not come with enough background knowledge on a subject to be true participants in the