What is idealization in philosophy. Idealization as a method of theoretical research
Idealizing means giving too much importance to some aspect of life that is important to you. And redundancy is manifested in the fact that you experience long-term negative experiences when real life does not match your expectations.
For example, idealization occurs when you have some ideal model in your head of how a husband (or wife), a child, an acquaintance, a boss, a representative of authority, etc. should behave. You know how he should behave. And he behaves a little (or not at all) like that. That is, it does not correspond to the ideal that exists in your imagination. His behavior or actions do not meet your expectations. Therefore, you become aggressive and try to get him to do what you see fit. Or you fall into sadness or despair that he is behaving incorrectly. In both cases, you do not accept this person (and through him, the whole world) as he is in reality, because he does not correspond to the ideal that exists in your mind.
You can idealize not only individual people but also the situation of the surrounding world as a whole. For example, the government misbehaves and leads the country to a dead end. Politicians think only of themselves and do not care about the people. And there are such idealizations that poison our lives so great amount. Further we will consider them in more detail.
Idealizations explicit and implicit
But before that, we propose to distinguish two types of idealizations: manifest and hidden.
Manifest idealization occurs when something in this life causes your long-term irritation (or other negative feeling). It can be anything: a job, an apartment, a TV show, the government, a boss or employee at work, a mother-in-law, a wife (husband), a car, etc. etc. If you have an object that causes constant irritation, then this means that you idealize this object (earthly value). Those. you know what it should be. And he is not like that, so you are unhappy with him.
The second form of idealization is hidden. It occurs when you do not have a constant dissatisfaction with some value. Sometimes you do not even suspect that some idea about yourself or other people is very significant for you. But if this idea is somehow violated, then an outbreak of discontent, aggressiveness will necessarily arise in your soul, or you will feel the complete meaninglessness of your existence. For example, you may find that you cannot imagine life without your favorite job or family.
In order to reveal hidden idealization, one can imagine life by successively removing various values from it - which ones, we will consider in detail a little later. If the absence of this value does not cause any reaction, you are not “hooked” on it. If you cannot imagine life without this value (work, family, sex, money, power, etc.), then you probably overestimate it.
The term "excessive" means that you value your model of the world (for example, that people should be honest, children should take care of their parents, people should not insult each other, etc.) too high and think that Life cannot to exist in a different way. You know how the world should be, and you can't imagine that it could be different.
This means that sooner or later this value must be destroyed or taken away from you so that you do not forget that only God gives and takes everything from us. And he will take away this value from you because you are dissatisfied with something in this world. But this world was created by God. It means that you are dissatisfied with him, that is, you fall into sin. But more on that a little later.
So, if a person idealizes something, then he falls under karmic "education". This "education" works by the forced destruction of the earthly value he idealizes.
For example, if you are too passionately in love and idealize your partner, most likely he will soon leave you (or fall in love with another). If you idealize some aspects family life, then for sure your spouse (wife) will not share exactly your views on family life. And so on any other question.
List of idealizations of earthly values
Excessive attachment of a person to:
- Your body and physical health. This means that you worry excessively in case of ailments or in violation of physical perfection. Or God gave you health and physical strength, and on the basis of this you began to despise other, weaker people.
- Beauty and attractiveness. This idealization occurs when you are constantly worried about whether you are beautiful enough, whether you are well dressed and well-haired, and so on. And vice versa, if you were rewarded with beauty and on the basis of this you began to despise the rest, “ugly” people, this is also very bad.
- Sex in its various manifestations. Sex is a part of our life and no one can stop enjoying it. But if you are dissatisfied with your sexual partner (condemning him for imperfection) or condemning yourself for insufficient sexual opportunities (which you think should be more outstanding), then this is already a sin.
- Money and other material values. Almost everyone lacks money and material goods, no matter how much you have. But idealization arises only when you consider your life a failure, if you do not have enough money, if you do not have a car or a country house. Or when you have a lot of money, and on the basis of this you begin to despise other people who do not have that amount of money.
- work. Many people most give their lives to work and cannot imagine life without their favorite work, without the implementation of their plans and ideas, career growth or achievement high level material well-being. Therefore, periodically they receive “clicks” in the form of business failures, career failures or loss of money.
- Family, children. From youth, each person makes up a model for his future family life, attaching special importance to some aspects of it (fidelity, love of order, appearance, smooth relationships, etc.). Therefore, in order to destroy ideals, he is given a partner who has an opposite system of values.
- Moral norms, public opinion. Such idealization is typical mainly for older people who were brought up in accordance with the norms of communist morality. Accordingly, they are greatly annoyed by the “immoral” behavior of young people, changing the system life values etc. For the military and officials, the opinion of neighbors and acquaintances is often very important, so their children sometimes have to destroy this idealization.
- Perfection. A person can exalt his own or someone else's perfection and despise "imperfect" people. Moreover, the model of the “perfect” person usually has its own model for everyone. For example, nationalism and fascism appear as a result of the exaltation of the perfection of some people and the humiliation of others.
- Development, education, intelligence. The idealization of these qualities is characteristic of scientists, people of art, and the intelligentsia. It breeds contempt for uneducated or undeveloped people. Or they can't imagine their child without a career in science. Accordingly, in order to destroy the ideals of the parents of their child, science will be completely indifferent.
- Creativity, creation. Idealization creativity characteristic of artists, musicians, artists, writers and other people involved in the creation of something new. Having received the ability for creativity at birth, they often forget who gave them these abilities, who organizes "inspiration", etc. Own successes give rise to contempt for the rest, uncreative human beings. Or to those who are undeveloped and do not understand your creative self-manifestation.
- Faith in something, trust. A lot of people gave their lives trying to realize ideas invented by someone - communism, a brighter future, a good ruler, etc. Many living people believe in such ideals and get annoyed when real life develops according to completely different laws. This also includes excessive trust in other people - they will be forced to destroy your ideal. “Trust, but verify”, so as not to be offended later, especially in financial matters, folk experience teaches us.
- Capabilities. This is an idealization of achieving success in any field in this world. If success is not achieved, then people with such "hooks" believe that life has been wasted. Conversely, if people have achieved great success due to their abilities, they may begin to despise other people, which is a sin and is punished.
- Career, future. Such idealizations are characteristic of those people who plan for their future success and fall into aggressiveness or discouragement when their plans are violated.
- Target. Each person sets some goals in life and strives to achieve them, which is not bad at all. But when the goal is not achieved, a person can become discouraged, depressed, irritated or angry. This is already being punished. A person can strive and achieve any earthly goals, but he should not make them the goal of his life. Earthly goals are achievable in the position of a player who strives to win, but admits the possibility of losing at the next stage.
- Fame, glory, honor, worship. These human joys are equally loved by both men and women. Fame is a good thing, but when famous people begin to despise the rest of the "gray" mass of people, then this is punished. This idealization is known as "star fever". It led to the collapse of the careers of many famous personalities.
- Power. Power is loved by many, but not everyone has the opportunity to try it. Men try to gain power in society or at work, women apply it in family life. Power itself is not harmful, the thirst for power and the pleasure from its use are punished in case of humiliation of other people, or attempts to force the whole the world be what you imagine.
- Relationship between people. Such idealization occurs, for example, in people who have been brought up in a family with good relationships. Once in an environment where people behave more rudely, a person begins to get annoyed or fall into aggressiveness, trying to impose his model of sensitive or delicate relationships.
- Spirituality, religiosity. Spirituality itself is a good thing. But if a person boasts that he is spiritual or always performs religious rites, and despises other, “spiritual” people, then this is already punished. The idealization of spirituality often gives rise to internal contempt for the material world, as a result, such people are left without money and other benefits.
Above we have given the most common types of earthly values, the value of which people tend to exaggerate. Other types of idealization of earthly values are also possible, but they are somewhat less common.
Erroneous Beliefs
The most common beliefs include:
- Pride, vanity, high self-esteem. This attitude to the world takes place when a person believes that the whole world revolves around his navel. And whatever happens in the world, everything is directed either against or for him. Accordingly, a person considers only his own opinion, needs and interests, and despises everyone else. Or a person is very powerful and internally confident that any goals are achievable for him. This idealization leads to the complete destruction of all plans and deeds of a generally strong and self-confident person.
- An attempt to put the world around you under your control, authority. Such an attitude towards life is typical for people occupying any leadership positions. By the nature of their work, they plan how events should develop and get annoyed when their plans collapse. The same idealization often takes place in families with powerful wives. To destroy idealization, they are given weak husbands who do not know how to earn money, who drink or are sick.
- Jealousy. This feeling arises when one person treats another as his property. And my property should belong only to me, and no one dares to touch it (or look at it). In the order of upbringing, a jealous person usually gets a freedom-loving and internally independent half.
- Condemnation and contempt of people. A similar attitude towards people arises among those who have achieved real success in our world - have achieved money, fame or power. Or a person has some kind of ability that allows him to look down on other people. But no lesser sin is condemnation of oneself, for example, one’s weak abilities, inability to achieve goals, past actions, etc.
- Resentment for life. Such an attitude to life can develop in any person, regardless of the level of his abilities, wealth or success. The person believes that his life is not successful. Or that he does not get what he seems to be supposed to. Or getting punished too much for nothing. In fact, his condition is a consequence of his attitude towards life.
- Dissatisfaction with oneself or fate. Such beliefs are usually created as a result of excessive idealization of one's abilities. Divergence of reality with own convictions causes irritation, aggressiveness, resentment or condemnation.
The list of erroneous beliefs can be expanded many times over, including political, national, religious and other views. Examples of erroneous beliefs are internal settings such as "life is not successful", "I am the most unhappy", "no one loves me", "I will never get married" and the like. People with such beliefs are often not interested in money, fame, or other material or spiritual values. They just like to feel in such an unhappy state, often they find a certain pleasure in this. More precisely, this state is as comfortable as possible for their uncontrollable "talker", which thus draws everything to itself. vitality a person and introduces him into a state of depression or constant doubt.
People with erroneous beliefs are usually out of tune with the outside world and are the favorite clients of the egregor of the “unhappy life”.
If we consider more deeply, then erroneous beliefs are most often the result of an idealization of some earthly value. But the objects of idealization are sometimes quite difficult to determine, and erroneous beliefs usually lie on the surface and are declared by the person himself. That is why we have identified them as a separate source of liquid that fills the "vessel of karma."
Alexander Sviyash
(from the Greek. idea - image, idea) - a concept meaning the representation of h.-l. better than it really is....
(from the Greek. idea - image, idea) - a concept meaning the representation of h.-l. in a more perfect form than it really is. In the concepts formed as a result of I., idealized objects are conceived, which do not exist in reality and whose prototypes can be indicated only with a certain degree of approximation. I., being the same natural ability of human thinking as the ability to abstract and generalize, is widely used in various fields of mental activity. So, in ordinary consciousness real people, events, circumstances are often idealized. Poets and artists resort to I., in their work they form the material of life in accordance with the idea, the laws of beauty, and other aesthetic standards. I. plays an important role in scientific knowledge - primarily in mathematics and mathematized natural science. Here I. acts as an acceptable and necessary simplification, which makes it possible to exclude from consideration those properties and connections of the objects under study, the inclusion of which would significantly complicate or make it impossible to discern and formulate natural laws. The assimilation of reality, which is characteristic of I. to some ideal model, and the corresponding mental transformation of it, allows one to go beyond the limits of empirical consideration proper and to rise to the level of theoretical description, where natural laws can be expressed in the language of mathematics, as is done, for example, in classical mechanics, thermodynamics and other physical theories. Properly implemented I., which is one of the manifestations of the creative activity of human thinking, contributes to a deeper comprehension of objective reality.
Idealization
Mental construction of images of objects that do not exist and are not feasible in reality.
Idealization
represents the mental introduction of certain changes in the object under study in accordance with the objectives of the research ....
is the mental introduction of certain changes in the object under study in accordance with the objectives of the research. As a result of such a change, some properties, aspects or features of the object may be excluded from consideration. A well-known example of idealization is the concept of a material point in mechanics - this is an object whose dimensions are neglected. In reality, such objects do not exist in nature, but such an abstraction makes it possible to replace a wide variety of real objects in research: from atoms and molecules to planets and stars.
Idealization
A mental act associated with the formation of certain abstract objects that are fundamentally unrealizable in experience and ...
A mental act associated with the formation of certain abstract objects that are fundamentally unrealizable in experience and reality. Idealized objects are limiting cases of certain real objects and serve as a means of their scientific analysis, the basis for constructing the theory of these real objects; they, i.e., ultimately act as reflections of objective objects, processes and phenomena. The following concepts can serve as examples of idealized objects: “point”, “straight line”, “actual infinity” - in mathematics; "absolutely solid”, “ideal gas”, “absolutely black body” - in physics; "ideal solution" - in physical chemistry. Along with abstraction, with which it is closely connected, I. acts an important tool knowledge of the laws of reality.
Idealization
The process of mental construction of representations and concepts about objects that do not exist and cannot exist ...
The process of mental construction of representations and concepts about objects that do not exist and cannot exist in reality, but retain some features of real objects. In the process of I., on the one hand, we abstract from many properties of real objects and retain only those of them that are of interest to us in this case, on the other hand, we introduce into the content of the formed concepts such features that, in principle, cannot belong to real objects. As a result of I., ideal, or idealized, objects arise, for example, “material point”, “straight line”, “ideal gas”, “absolutely black body”, “inertia”, etc. Any science, singling out from real world its aspect for study, uses I. and idealized objects. The latter are much simpler than real objects, which makes it possible to give their exact mathematical description and penetrate deeper into the nature of the phenomena under study. The fruitfulness of scientific I. is tested in experiment and material practice, in the course of which the correlation of theoretical idealized objects with real things and processes is carried out.
The mental activity of a researcher in the process of scientific knowledge includes a special kind of abstraction, which is called idealization. Idealization is the mental introduction of certain changes in the object under study in accordance with the objectives of the research.
As a result of such changes, for example, some properties, aspects, attributes of objects can be excluded from consideration. Thus, the idealization widely used in mechanics, called material point, implies a body devoid of any dimensions. Such an abstract object, the dimensions of which are neglected, is convenient in describing the movement of a wide variety of material objects from atoms and molecules to planets. solar system.
Changes in an object, achieved in the process of idealization, can also be made by endowing it with some special properties that are not feasible in reality. An example is the abstraction introduced into physics through idealization, known as an absolutely black body (such a body is endowed with a property that does not exist in nature to absorb absolutely all the radiant energy that falls on it, reflecting nothing and passing nothing through itself). The expediency of using idealization is determined by the following circumstances:
Firstly, “idealization is expedient when the real objects to be investigated are quite complex for the available means of theoretical, in particular mathematical, analysis, and in relation to the idealized case, by applying these means, it is possible to build and develop a theory that, under certain conditions and purposes, is effective. , to describe the properties and behavior of these real objects. The latter, in essence, certifies the fruitfulness of idealization, distinguishes it from a fruitless fantasy.
Secondly, it is advisable to use idealization in those cases when it is necessary to exclude certain properties, connections of the object under study, without which it cannot exist, but which obscure the essence of the processes occurring in it. A complex object is presented as if in a "purified" form, which facilitates its study.
Thirdly, the use of idealization is advisable when the properties, sides, and connections of the object under study that are excluded from consideration do not affect its essence within the framework of this study. In this case, the correct choice of the admissibility of such an idealization plays a very important role.
It should be noted that the nature of idealization can be very different if there are different theoretical approaches to study a phenomenon. As an example, we can point to three different concepts of "ideal gas", formed under the influence of various theoretical and physical concepts: Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac. However, all three variants of idealization obtained in this way turned out to be fruitful in the study of gas states of various nature: the Maxwell-Boltzmann ideal gas became the basis for studies of ordinary molecular rarefied gases at sufficiently high temperatures; the Bose-Einstein ideal gas was applied to study the photon gas, and the Fermi-Dirac ideal gas helped solve a number of electron gas problems.
Being a kind of abstraction, idealization allows an element of sensory visualization (the usual process of abstraction leads to the formation of mental abstractions that do not have any visualization). This feature of idealization is very important for the implementation of such a specific method of theoretical knowledge as a thought experiment (it is also called mental, subjective, imaginary, idealized).
A thought experiment involves operating with an idealized object (replacing a real object in abstraction), which consists in the mental selection of certain positions, situations that allow us to detect some important features of the object under study. This shows a certain similarity between a mental (idealized) experiment and a real one. Moreover, any real experiment, before being carried out in practice, is first “played out” by the researcher mentally in the process of thinking, planning. In this case, the thought experiment acts as a preliminary ideal plan for a real experiment.
At the same time, the thought experiment also plays an independent role in science. At the same time, while maintaining similarity with the real experiment, it at the same time differs significantly from it.
In scientific knowledge, there may be cases when, in the study of certain phenomena, situations, conducting real experiments is generally impossible. This gap in knowledge can only be filled by a thought experiment.
The scientific activity of Galileo, Newton, Maxwell, Carnot, Einstein and other scientists who laid the foundations modern natural science, testifies to the essential role of a thought experiment in the formation of theoretical ideas. The history of the development of physics is rich in facts about the use of thought experiments. An example is Galileo's thought experiments, which led to the discovery of the law of inertia. “... The law of inertia,” A. Einstein and L. Infeld wrote, “cannot be deduced directly from experiment, it can be deduced speculatively - by thinking associated with observation. This experiment can never be done in reality, although it leads to a deep understanding of actual experiments.
A thought experiment can be of great heuristic value, helping to interpret new knowledge obtained in a purely mathematical way. This is confirmed by many examples from the history of science.
The idealization method, which turns out to be very fruitful in many cases, has at the same time certain limitations. In addition, any idealization is limited to a specific area of phenomena and serves to solve only certain problems. This is clearly seen at least in the example of the above idealization of "absolutely black body".
The main positive value of idealization as a method of scientific knowledge lies in the fact that the theoretical constructions obtained on its basis make it possible then to effectively investigate real objects and phenomena. The simplifications achieved with the help of idealization facilitate the creation of a theory that reveals the laws of the studied area of the phenomena of the material world. If the theory as a whole correctly describes real phenomena, then the idealizations underlying it are also legitimate.
Formalization.
Formalization is understood as a special approach in scientific knowledge, which consists in the use of special symbols that allow one to abstract from the study of real objects, from the content of the theoretical provisions that describe them, and instead operate with a certain set of symbols (signs).
This technique consists in the construction of abstract mathematical models that reveal the essence of the studied processes of reality. When formalizing, reasoning about objects is transferred to the plane of operating with signs (formulas). The relations of signs replace statements about the properties and relations of objects. In this way, a generalized sign model of a certain subject area is created, which makes it possible to discover the structure of various phenomena and processes, while abstracting from the qualitative characteristics of the latter. The derivation of some formulas from others according to the strict rules of logic and mathematics is a formal study of the main characteristics of the structure of various phenomena, sometimes very distant in nature.
A striking example of formalization is the mathematical descriptions of various objects and phenomena widely used in science, based on the corresponding meaningful theories. At the same time, the mathematical symbolism used not only helps to consolidate the existing knowledge about the objects and phenomena under study, but also acts as a kind of tool in the process of their further knowledge.
To build any formal system, it is necessary: a) to specify an alphabet, that is, a certain set of characters; b) setting the rules by which "words", "formulas" can be obtained from the initial characters of this alphabet; c) setting the rules by which one can move from one word, formula of a given system to other words and formulas (the so-called inference rules).
As a result, a formal sign system is created in the form of a certain artificial language. An important advantage of this system is the possibility of carrying out within its framework the study of an object in a purely formal way (operating with signs) without directly referring to this object.
Another advantage of formalization is to ensure the brevity and clarity of the recording of scientific information, which opens up great opportunities for operating with it.
Of course, formalized artificial languages do not have the flexibility and richness of a natural language. But they lack the ambiguity of terms (polysemy), which is characteristic of natural languages. They are characterized by a well-constructed syntax (which establishes the rules for the connection between signs, regardless of their content) and unambiguous semantics (the semantic rules of a formalized language quite unambiguously determine the correlation of a sign system with a certain subject area). Thus, a formalized language has the monosemic property.
The ability to represent certain theoretical positions of science in the form of a formalized sign system has great importance for knowledge. But it should be borne in mind that the formalization of a particular theory is possible only if its content is taken into account. "A bare mathematical equation does not yet represent a physical theory to get physical theory, it is necessary to give mathematical symbols a specific empirical content.
The growing use of formalization as a method of theoretical knowledge is connected not only with the development of mathematics. In chemistry, for example, the corresponding chemical symbolism, together with the rules for operating it, was one of the variants of a formalized artificial language. The method of formalization occupied an increasingly important place in logic as it developed. The works of Leibniz laid the foundation for the creation of the method of logical calculus. The latter led to the formation in the middle of the XIX century. mathematical logic, which in the second half of our century played an important role in the development of cybernetics, in the emergence of electronic computers, in solving problems of industrial automation, etc.
The language of modern science differs significantly from natural human language. It contains many special terms, expressions, formalization tools are widely used in it, among which the central place belongs to mathematical formalization. Based on the needs of science, various artificial languages \u200b\u200bare created to solve certain problems. The entire set of created and being created artificial formalized languages is included in the language of science, forming a powerful means of scientific knowledge.
The mental activity of a researcher in the process of scientific knowledge includes a special kind of abstraction, which is called idealization. Idealization represents: a mental introduction of certain changes in the object under study in accordance with the objectives of the research.
As a result of such changes, for example, some properties, aspects, attributes of objects can be excluded from consideration. Thus, the idealization widespread in mechanics, called a material point, implies a body devoid of any dimensions.
Such an abstract object, the dimensions of which are neglected, is convenient in describing motion. Moreover, such an abstraction makes it possible to replace a variety of real objects in the study: from molecules or atoms when solving many problems of statistical mechanics and to the planets of the solar system when studying, for example, their movement around the Sun.
Changes in an object, achieved in the process of idealization, can also be made by endowing it with some special properties that are not feasible in reality. An example is the abstraction introduced into physics by means of idealization, known as a black body. Such a body is endowed with a property that does not exist in nature to absorb absolutely all the radiant energy that falls on it, reflects nothing and does not pass anything through itself. The emission spectrum of a black body is an ideal case, because it is not affected by the nature of the substance of the emitter or the state of its surface. And if one can theoretically describe the spectral distribution of the radiation energy density for the ideal case, then one can learn something about the radiation process in general.
This idealization played an important role in the progress of scientific knowledge in the field of physics, because it helped to reveal the erroneousness of some existing in the second half of the 19th century. representations. These ideas, applied to the study of a completely black body, led to a paradoxical situation.
Physicists took up the problem of radiation from an absolute black body at the very end of the last century. Starting with assumptions based on the laws of classical thermodynamics and optics, they tried to derive a formula for the energy spectrum of radiation. These attempts failed, as they led to the conclusion that became known as the "ultraviolet catastrophe" ... It followed from the theory that a black body heated to high temperatures should emit an infinite amount of energy in the high frequency region, i.e. ... in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum and beyond ... In the case of a completely black body ... the theory predicted a catastrophe, which in reality does not take place.
The problem of calculating the amount of radiation emitted by an ideal radiator - a completely black body, was seriously taken up by Max Planck, who worked on it for four long years. Finally, in 1990, he succeeded in finding a solution in the form of a formula that correctly described the spectral distribution of the radiation energy of a blackbody. So working with an idealized object helped lay the foundations quantum theory that marked a radical revolution in science.
Expediency use idealization determined by the following circumstances.
Firstly, idealization is appropriate when the real objects to be studied are sufficiently complex for the available means of theoretical, in particular mathematical, analysis, and in relation to the idealized case, by applying these means, it is possible to build and develop a theory, effective under certain conditions and purposes, to describe the properties and behavior of these real objects. The latter, in essence, certifies the fruitfulness of idealization, distinguishes it from fruitless fantasy.
Secondly, it is expedient to use idealization in those cases when it is necessary to exclude certain properties, connections of the object under study, without which it cannot exist, but which obscure the essence of the processes occurring in it. A complex object is presented as if in a purified form, which facilitates its study.
For this epistemological possibility idealization was noticed by F. Engels, who showed it using the example of a study conducted by Sadi Carnot: “He studied the steam engine, analyzed it, found that the main process in it does not appear in its pure form, but is obscured by all sorts of side processes, eliminated these indifferent for the main process, side circumstances and designed an ideal steam engine (or gas engine), which, it is true, is just as impossible to realize as it is impossible, for example, to realize a geometric line or a geometric plane, but which, in its own way, provides the same services as these mathematical abstractions: it represents the process in question in a pure, independent, undistorted form.
Thirdly, the use of idealization is advisable when the properties, sides, and connections of the object under study that are excluded from consideration do not affect its essence within the framework of this study. It has already been mentioned above, for example, that the abstraction of a material point allows in some cases to represent a wide variety of objects - from molecules or atoms to giant space objects. In this case, the correct choice of the admissibility of such an idealization plays a very important role. If in a number of cases it is possible and expedient to consider atoms in the form of material points, then such idealization becomes inadmissible when studying the structure of the atom. In the same way, our planet can be considered a material point when considering its rotation around the Sun, but by no means when considering its own daily rotation.
It should be noted that the nature of idealization can be very different if there are different theoretical approaches to the study of some phenomenon. As an example, we can point to three different concepts of "ideal gas", formed under the influence of various theoretical and physical concepts: Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac. However, all three variants of idealization obtained at the atom turned out to be fruitful in the study of gas states of various nature: the Maxwell-Boltzmann ideal gas became the basis for studies of ordinary molecular rarefied gases at sufficiently high temperatures; the Bose-Einstein ideal gas was applied to study the photon gas, and the Fermi-Dirac ideal gas helped solve a number of electron gas problems.
Being a kind of abstraction, idealization admits an element of sensory visualization (the usual process of abstraction leads to the formation of mental abstractions that do not have any visualization). This feature of idealization is very important for the implementation of such a specific method of theoretical knowledge as a thought experiment (it is also called mental, subjective, imaginary, idealized).
thought experiment involves operating with an idealized object (replacing a real object in abstraction), which consists in the mental selection of certain positions, situations that make it possible to detect some important features of the object under study. This shows a certain similarity between a mental (idealized) experiment and a real one. Moreover, any real experiment, before being carried out in practice, is first “played out” by the researcher mentally in the process of thinking, planning. In this case, the thought experiment acts as a preliminary ideal plan for a real experiment. At the same time, the thought experiment also plays an independent role in science. At the same time, while maintaining similarity with the real experiment, it at the same time differs significantly from it. These differences are as follows. A real experiment is a method associated with practical, object-manipulative, "tool" knowledge of the world around. In a mental experiment, the researcher operates not with material objects, but with their idealized images, and the operation itself is carried out in his mind, that is, purely speculative.
The possibility of setting up a real experiment is determined by the availability of the appropriate material and technical (and sometimes even financial support). A thought experiment does not require such provision.
In a real experiment, one has to take into account the real physical and other limitations of its implementation, with the impossibility in some cases to eliminate external influences interfering with the course of the experiment, with distortion of the results obtained due to the indicated reasons. In this regard, a thought experiment has a clear advantage over a real experiment. In a thought experiment, you can abstract from the action of undesirable factors, conduct it in an idealized, “pure” form.
In scientific knowledge, there may be cases when, in the study of certain phenomena, situations, conducting real experiments is generally impossible. This gap in knowledge can only be filled by a thought experiment.
The scientific activity of Galileo, Newton, Maxwell, Carnot, Einstein and other scientists who laid the foundations of modern natural science testifies to the essential role of a thought experiment in the formation of theoretical ideas. The history of the development of physics is rich in facts about the use of thought experiments. An example is Galileo's thought experiments, which led to the discovery of the law of inertia.
Real experiments in which it is impossible to eliminate the friction factor seemed to confirm Aristotle's concept, which had prevailed for thousands of years, stating that a moving body stops if the force pushing it ceases to act. Such a statement was based on a simple statement of facts observed in real experiments (a ball or a cart that received a force effect and then rolled without it on a horizontal surface inevitably slowed down its movement and, in the end, stopped). In these experiments, it was impossible to observe a uniform incessant motion by inertia.
Galileo, having done mentally indicated experiments with step-by-step idealization of rubbing surfaces and bringing friction to a complete exclusion from the interaction, refuted the Aristotelian point of view and made the only correct conclusion. This conclusion could only be obtained with the help of a thought experiment, which made it possible to discover the fundamental law of the mechanics of motion. “... The law of inertia,” wrote A. Einstein and L. Infeld, “cannot be deduced directly from experiment, it can be deduced speculatively - by thinking associated with observation. This experiment can never be done in reality, although it leads to a deep understanding of actual experiments.
The results of thought experiments can sometimes pose serious problems for science, which are not so easy to solve. An interesting example in this regard is Maxwell thought experiment, which caused a sensation in the early 70s of the nineteenth century. This thought experiment, described in his work The Theory of Heat, called into question the second law of thermodynamics. In his thought experiment, Maxwell allowed for the existence of a special being - a “demon”, ... whose abilities are so sophisticated that it can follow every molecule in its path and is able to do what is currently impossible for us. “Suppose,” Maxwell wrote, “that there is a vessel divided into two parts A and B by a partition with a small hole, and that a being who can see individual molecules opens and closes this hole so as to allow only faster molecules to pass from B into A. This being will thus raise the temperature at B and lower it at A without the expenditure of work, contrary to the second law of thermodynamics.”
The battle with Maxwell's "demon" took a long period of time. Only in the 20th century did the American physicists Szilard and Gaybor prove that the triple law of thermodynamics remains unshakable and that no "perpetual motion machine", even with the help of a "demon", can be built. They managed to design and calculate the demon machine, and made sure that such a machine would work, but requires external energy. Moreover, the energy costs for its work will be greater than the energy output as a result of its activities. The search for an answer to the problem posed by Maxwell's thought experiment was undoubtedly useful and contributed to the growth of scientific knowledge.
A thought experiment can be of great heuristic value, helping to interpret new knowledge obtained in a purely mathematical way. This is confirmed by many examples from the history of science. One of them is a thought experiment by W. Heisenberg, aimed at explaining the uncertainty relation. “In this thought experiment, the uncertainty relation was found through abstraction, dividing the integral structure of the electron into two opposites: a wave and a corpuscle. Thus, the coincidence of the result of a thought experiment with the result achieved mathematically meant proof of the objectively existing inconsistency of the electron as an integral material formation and made it possible to understand this classically.
However, the ignorance of some scientists of materialistic dialectics prevented a correct understanding of this conclusion. As a result, numerous discussions on this issue arose, which developed especially vigorously at the Solvay Congresses of 1927 and 1930. In these discussions, according to participants, idealized imaginary experiments played a huge role. In them, Heisenberg wrote, “such paradoxes (contradictions between wave and corpuscular representations. - Auth.) showed up especially sharply, and we tried to figure out what answer nature would probably give to such experiments.” These thought experiments contributed to the understanding of new scientific provisions, helped to explain the reasons for the rejection of old ideas.
The idealization method, which turns out to be very fruitful in many cases, has at the same time certain limitations. The development of scientific knowledge sometimes forces us to abandon previously accepted idealized ideas. This happened, for example, when Einstein created the special theory of relativity, from which the Newtonian idealizations "absolute space" and "absolute time" were excluded. In addition, any idealization is limited to a specific area of phenomena and serves to solve only certain problems. This is clearly seen at least in the example of the above-mentioned idealization of "absolutely black body".
Idealization itself, although it can be fruitful and even lead to scientific discovery, is still insufficient to make this discovery. Here the decisive role is played by the theoretical principles from which the researcher proceeds. The idealization of the steam engine considered above, successfully carried out by Sadi Carnot, led him to the discovery of the mechanical equivalent of heat, which, however, ... he could not discover and see only because, notes F. Engels, - he believed in caloric. It is also proof of the harm of false theories.”
The main positive value of idealization as a method of scientific knowledge lies in the fact that the theoretical constructions obtained on its basis make it possible then to effectively investigate real objects and phenomena. The simplifications achieved with the help of idealization facilitate the creation of a theory that reveals the laws of the studied area of the phenomena of the material world. If the theory as a whole correctly describes real phenomena, then the idealizations underlying it are also legitimate.
Idealization is overvalued ideas, attitudes and ideas, endowed with excess potential, involving a person in a struggle with himself and the people around him. Idealization of relationships, a child, talents creates suffering.
What does idealization mean?
Idealization is a concept that includes inferences, ideas of a person about how it should be in reality, while existing objects, people are endowed with properties, qualities, features that are more perfect than they are. In science, the idealization method denotes a type of theoretical knowledge with elements of abstraction, for studying patterns. Idealization in philosophy was considered by thinkers as a natural process for human thinking, where an active role belongs to the ideal principle, endowed with a creative spark.
Idealization in psychology
Idealization and devaluation are phenomena that go hand in hand in psychology. regards idealization as a defense mechanism in which others are presented as more ideal and perfect. The mechanism starts in childhood, when children perceive their parents as giants, superhumans. In adulthood, a person who idealizes people becomes dependent on relationships, other people's opinions. Idealization can arise in any of the spheres of life, no one is immune from this.
Idealization in sociology
Idealization, its definition in sociology, is based on the fact that human thinking tends to conscious, meaningful activity, and this distinguishes it from the animal. The ability to imagine how an object or object will look ideally is designated by sociologists as idealism. Any practical activity is preceded by an idea of what kind of result you want to get. Thanks to great thinkers, discoverers, scientists, society evolves and develops - this would not happen if people did not strive for the ideal.
Idealization in art
Different types of idealization in art perform a very important function: they help to raise a person above the ordinary life. An artistic image, whether in literature or fine arts reflects a certain ideal that is characteristic of a particular era and is based on the following categories:
- sublime - low;
- beautiful - ugly;
- nobility - dishonor and meanness;
- aesthetics - vulgarity.
In literature and art, idealization helps fantasies to break through into reality and be part of this reality. Idealistic art has sensuality, it is unique, because those images that come from the unconscious and splash out in the form of a picture or literary work enrich this world. But it is worth distinguishing falsely embellished art from idealistic art, the first repels on an intuitive level, the second fascinates.
Idealization in science
The representation of something in a perfect form, rather than it is in reality, is also characteristic of science. Abstraction and idealization are methods of theoretical knowledge in any science. For example, in mathematics, a hypothetical mathematical model is created for research, which is simplified as much as possible: the geometric plane is ideally represented as a flat surface without curvature. Physics and other natural sciences also use idealization, which allows you to study the patterns that are characteristic of an object.
Examples of idealization from life
Giving excessive importance is characteristic of people in general. Erroneous beliefs about sex, money, relationships, talents and other values lead a person to suffering and a feeling of an unsuccessfully developing life, unfulfillment. Examples of idealization:
- a person must be decent, clean;
- sex should not be immoral;
- only a slender body is beautiful;
- close people friends should trust each other;
- "my" religion is the most correct.
Idealization of abilities
The idealization method involves the mental construction of objects, situations, and they fit into our idea of how everything should be arranged more simply and easily. The idealization of abilities is manifested in a person’s hyper-confidence in achieving success without anyone’s help, he makes grandiose plans, does not listen to adequate opinions and advice, and is arrogant about people who have already achieved something in this direction, but are still in the process. Life destroys these idealizations: grandiose plans are frustrated, successes are not recognized.
Overvalued ideas when idealizing abilities:
- “I would have achieved success long ago if they didn’t put sticks in my wheels, the whole world seems to be against me!”;
- "All or nothing! For less, I do not agree!”;
- "I was born for great things!";
- "I know better!";
- “Nobody can do it better than me!”
Relationship idealization
The idealization of human relations plays a disservice to both women and men. The image of a certain ideal, invented, taken from reading romantic books, does not allow real relationships to happen, or even if this happens, a real person will lose to an ideal man or woman, which will eventually lead to. How is the idealization of relationships manifested:
- there are overvalued ideas about how a partner should act in a given situation;
- in marriage there should be no betrayal, deceit;
- a man should guess from the first time why his woman is in a bad mood, what she wants, what she was offended by;
- a woman should meet her husband in full dress every day, be affectionate, even if she has problems;
- in a harmonious family they do not shout, do not swear and do not beat the dishes.
Idealization of motherhood
The reasons for the idealization of motherhood may lie in the past of a woman and say that childhood was not cloudless, comparing her mother with other mothers, for example, friends, a girl may decide that another mother is more sensitive and friendly than her own, and the opinion is made up of those superficial moments when the girl is visiting and sees only fragmentary situations, inventing in her head the image of an ideal mother, which the image of a real mother does not reach, and then the girl decides to become such a mother for her future children.
The idealization of motherhood is multifaceted and may include such an overvalued idea: a woman will not be fully realized without realizing herself in motherhood, the most important thing that should happen to a woman is to become a mother. It is easy to see when a woman tries in every possible way to get pregnant up to IVF, but she fails, as soon as she comes to terms with the fact that she is not destined to become a mother, pregnancy happens to her. But there is also such that not all women are born to become mothers, discarding this idealization, you can see your value in something else.
Idealization of the past
The idealization of the world and the processes in which it was in the past is more often assessed by older people as something better, purer and more noble, and modern life as full of intrigue, debauchery and wicked people. The idealization of past times has always existed. Why does this phenomenon occur? People often live in memories, and most of the pleasant memories often come from a past time. Even if the situations were difficult and difficult, after a while it is pleasant for a person to remember how he got out of this, met with good people, loved ones.
How to get rid of idealization?
It is very difficult and painful to get rid of such significant and dear attitudes and ideas. Life often shows that ideals are unattainable, here it is important to understand that real things are much more colorful and interesting than far-fetched ones - because life itself does not fit into any framework and standards. Living people with their shortcomings are much more attractive than the ideal image created in the head.
Are there any specific tips on how to stop idealizing a person? There are no such tips, and what works for one, causes protest for another, and yet there are general recommendations that help get rid of idealizations:
- Self-observation diary. Start writing down all your experiences on significant issues. You can divide the pages into two columns, in one to describe the experience, in the second to answer how it should be so that this experience does not exist. After some time, you can analyze the diary and see your favorite overvalued ideas.
- Positive attitude and sense of humor. “All life is a theater, and people in it are actors.” A familiar phrase that has not lost its relevance over the centuries-old history of mankind. You can call life a circus platform. Someone suffers with great pathos, and he needs spectators, someone in the role of a loser. Here it is important to try to identify yourself with your role: “Who am I, a clown, a tragedian, a womanizer?” To see and laugh: “What a wonderful actor I am!”. Life is so multifaceted, and adhering to only some permanent ideas or values, one cannot count on changes and achieving goals.
- Gratitude. Recognize and give space, thank for the invaluable experience and let go of idealization. You can even do a ritual to fix it in the subconscious, for example, release balloons into the sky, let your imagination come up with your own version of letting go, no matter how absurd it may seem.