metaphysical realism

philosophy

Also known as: external realism

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Metaphysical realism is a philosophical stance asserting that reality exists independently of our minds, knowledge, or beliefs. This means that statements can be true or false regardless of whether anyone knows or believes them.12

This view contrasts with antirealism, which often connects truth more closely with evidence or grounds for belief. For example, antirealists might argue that truth is equivalent to ideal rational acceptability.2

Metaphysical realism has various applications, including debates about the existence of abstract entities like universals (general properties) and possible worlds. It also touches upon the nature of reality itself, opposing idealist views that suggest reality is fundamentally mental. The core idea is that an objective truth exists, even if it's beyond our current or even ideal understanding.3452

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

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.

realism
Metaphysical realism and objective truth
Although several realist disputes seem to turn on whether statements of a certain kind are capable of being objectively true, it is far from obvious what being objectively true amounts to. The question of what it is for a statement…
Read More
Although several realist disputes seem to turn on whether statements of a certain kind are capable of being objectively true, it is far from obvious what being objectively true amounts to. The question of what it is for a statement…
Read More

objectivism
…doctrines consist of versions of metaphysical realism (the existence and nature of things in the world are independent of their being perceived or thought about), epistemological (or direct) realism (things in the world are perceived immediately or directly rather than inferred on the basis of perceptual evidence), ethical egoism (an…
Read More
…doctrines consist of versions of metaphysical realism (the existence and nature of things in the world are independent of their being perceived or thought about), epistemological (or direct) realism (things in the world are perceived immediately or directly rather than inferred on the basis of perceptual evidence), ethical egoism (an…
Read More

Sir Michael A.E. Dummett
According to Dummett, metaphysical realism is equivalent to the view that sentences are true or false independently of whether it is possible (even in principle) to recognize them as such. Mathematical realism, for example, implies that the Goldbach conjecture (every even counting number greater than 2 is the…
Read More
According to Dummett, metaphysical realism is equivalent to the view that sentences are true or false independently of whether it is possible (even in principle) to recognize them as such. Mathematical realism, for example, implies that the Goldbach conjecture (every even counting number greater than 2 is the…
Read More