Ontological Realism

Ontological realism is the philosophical view that there is a reality that exists independently of our thoughts, beliefs, or perceptions. In simpler terms, it suggests that the world—including objects, entities, and their properties—exists whether or not we recognize or understand it. For ontological realists, things like trees, mountains, and even abstract concepts like numbers have an existence beyond our understanding or descriptions of them. This perspective contrasts with views that assert reality is shaped by our minds or social constructs, emphasizing that there are objective truths about the world that are not contingent on human perceptions.