Three Realisms Compared

Last revised on March 15, 2007

The chart is based on p. 96 in Lakoff and Johnson, Philosophy in the Flesh, 1999, chapter 7.

Realism:
Assumes the
material world
exists and
provides an
account of how
we can function
successfully in it

Directness:
There is no
mind-body gap

Absoluteness:
The world is a
unique, absolu-
ly objective
structure of
which we can
have absolutely
correct, objective
knowledge

Greek Direct
Realism
Yes Yes Yes

(Analytic)
Symbol-
System
Realism
Yes, SSR
claims Realism
follows from
Absoluteness

No

Yes

Embodied
Realism Yes Yes No

	Realism: Assumes the material world exists and provides an account of how we can function successfully in it	Directness: There is no mind-body gap	Absoluteness: The world is a unique, absolu- ly objective structure of which we can have absolutely correct, objective knowledge
Greek Direct Realism	Yes	Yes	Yes
(Analytic) Symbol- System Realism	Yes, SSR claims Realism follows from Absoluteness	No	Yes
Embodied Realism	Yes	Yes	No