Realism: An Attempt to Trace Its Origins and Development in its Chief Representative | Syed Zafar ul Hasan | PDF Book Free Download

Realism: An Exploration of Its Origins and Evolution Through Its Key Figures, published in 1925, is the seminal work of Pakistani philosopher Syed Zafarul Hasan and serves as his doctoral dissertation. This book has established itself as a foundational text on the topic of realism for compelling reasons. Philosophical realism posits that the physical world exists independently of any observer. According to this view, objects possess properties irrespective of whether they are labeled, perceived, or named by anyone. In this work, Syed Zafarul Hasan endeavors to trace the historical development of realism from its inception with early philosophers to the Age of Reason, while also addressing significant philosophical challenges. Notably, Syed Zafarul Hasan was the first Muslim scholar from the Indian subcontinent to earn a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Oxford.

What is the meaning of Realism in philosophy?

In philosophical discourse, realism is a perspective that maintains the existence of an external world independent of our perceptions or interpretations. Realists assert that the objects, properties, and events in the world exist independently of human awareness. Realism encompasses various forms, each making distinct claims about the nature of the external world. For instance, metaphysical realism contends that a singular, objective reality exists apart from our perceptions, while epistemological realism argues that we can comprehend this objective reality through our sensory experiences and reasoning.
Aristotle and Plato are recognized as some of the earliest proponents of realism in philosophy. However, realism has manifested in various forms throughout different historical epochs, including medieval scholastic realism and modern scientific and critical realism. Broadly speaking, realism can be characterized as the belief that our experiential understanding of the world aligns closely with its actual state, regardless of our awareness of it.