"Be realistic" - such an instructive admonition is often heard by a person whose views on life are distinguished by childish naivety and overestimated expectations in relation to reality. But does this mean that any absence of infantilism is realism?
Realism (from Lat. Realis - essential, real) is a trend in art that cultivates objective reality, a way of thinking, as well as an objectivist doctrine in philosophy.
Everyday realism
When a person is advised to be realistic, they usually mean a sober and clear perception of reality. A person who thinks realistically should be able to give an adequate assessment of his activities and what is happening around him.
Realism in literature
The very term "realism" appeared in Russian literature thanks to Dmitry Pisarev, who introduced it into the everyday life of critics and publicists. Prior to this, "realism" was used by Herzen in his philosophical treatises. In the views of Herzen, realism is synonymous with materialism and opposed to idealism.
In realism, reality is depicted as it really is. Without embellishment and with a minimum of subjective investments - emotions, impulsive impulses, sensory perception. Examples of realism in Russian literature are Pushkin's works - "Belkin's Tales", "The Captain's Daughter", "Dubrovsky", "Boris Godunov", - Lermontov - "A Hero of Our Time", as well as Gogol - "Dead Souls".
One of the narrower literary trends is critical realism. Here, along with an objective reflection of reality, a detailed critical analysis of the inner world of a person is given. This method is most typical for the works of Belinsky, Chernyshevsky, Dobrolyubov and Chekhov.
Realism in painting
The concept of realism in painting is complex and contradictory. As a rule, it is understood as an aesthetic position aimed at an accurate and detailed fixation of the picture of reality.
The birth of realism in painting is often associated with the French artist Gustave Courbet, although many painters have worked in a realistic manner before him. In 1855, Gustave Courbet opened his own exhibition Pavilion of Realism in Paris.
Realism in philosophy
Realism as a philosophical term is used to designate a direction that postulates the independence of the existence of the world from human consciousness. At different times, philosophical realism was opposed to nominalism, conceptualism, idealism and anti-realism.
