#idealist

“Vi sono due generi di idealisti – disse. – Quelli che idealizzano la realtà, e quelli, più rari, che convertono in realtà l’ideale.” Gilbert Keith Chesterton “There are two kinds of idealists,” he said. “Those who idealize reality, and those, rarer, who convert the ideal into reality.” Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Satoru Gojo: An Introduction to Idealism

Before we begin, let's get something out of the way: "Idealism" does not mean "being idealistic". Also, if you've ever been around some terminally online Leninists, you may have heard "idealist" used as a pejorative. 9 times out of 10 they've never bothered learning what the word actually means, and so for them it's "People I don't like". Idealism also doesn't mean "ideal" in the sense of things being ideal (i.e. as something preferable).

Idealism is a theory of metaphysics. The idea here is that reality is dependent - and therefore defined - by consciousness. To be clear, the idea here isn't that reality is a dream or some mass hallucination. It's that reality is only what we can perceive. To better explain, let's look at Satoru Gojo, and sprinkle in the ideas of Immanuel Kant.

Gojo says that with his Six Eyes, he can see everything. So, if he can't see it, it doesn't exist, and therefore reality is defined by his consciousness. Kant would be skeptical at that first claim. While Kant agrees that the best way of getting information & knowledge is through rationality & empiricism (senses and reason), he notes that our senses are limited. Even Gojo's Six Eyes, for example, didn't tell him that it was Kenjaku, not Geto, who appeared in Shibuya; He had to figure that out off a gut feeling.

In fact, ordinary people in JJK can't see cursed spirits, only their material effects (think of the people in Shibuya killed by Mahito). For Kant, what we can experience is called "phenomena", and what we kant (I'm sorry) is "noumena" or "things in themselves" - i.e. reality as it exists independent of our senses. Reality then, in idealism, is only what we can make out.

And because it's basically the law at this point, here's a GIF of the KFC breakup scene.

Monthly mood boards.

This feels like Y2k.

I think Meredith is the ideal and Christina the relatable.

I do love who I am, but also excited for who I’m about to be. (12/31)

I could care less about a boyfriend, I need friends!

I think winters are for money spending. Save money all year so you can throw it around when it gets cold.

I feel like a little girl when my nose gets cold

To connect me to my ancestors: