Theistic Idealism
Quick Summary
Theistic idealism is a philosophical view that emphasizes the role of the ideal or spiritual in understanding reality. It posits that reality is fundamentally spirit or consciousness, and that abstractions and laws are more significant than sensory things. This perspective contrasts with materialism, which views matter as the fundamental substance of the world.1
Theistic idealism, founded by Rudolf Hermann Lotze, views the world as grounded in a transcendent spiritual being, or God, who is the synthesis of an evolving world process. This philosophy is distinct from pantheism, which identifies God with all existence, and from monism, which sees finite things as aspects of one ultimate Being. Theistic idealism maintains that the world is distinct from its creator but deeply involved in it. It also contrasts with deism, which posits a distant creator, and mysticism, which emphasizes direct, intuitive apprehension of ultimate reality.2345
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.