MATERIALISM > IDEALISM
In understanding the human experience in our world, the various thinkers of humankind can be split in two schools of thought: Idealism and Materialism. By understanding these philosophical foundations, one can understand way faster are people coming from in their opinion.
According to Idealism, the reality that we experience comes solely from our mind. Our ideas therefore are absolutely crucial in shaping the world as they are, in a way, already the world itself.
People who are idealistic often believe that the most important way to change the problems in our society is to focus on changing people's minds, as it will naturally lead to an aggregate change in the whole system. As such, ideas are what is driving history and the progress of the humankind.
According to Materialism, the reality that we experience is made up of matter and exists outside of our mind. When talking about human societies, matter, such as wealth, health, or the environment are what is determining our lives, and even our thoughts.
As such, Materialists can look at history through the lense of the control of material wealth, through an approach called "Historical Materialism", and find that history is not driven by ideas, but by changes in relation to the control of material wealth, and more particularly, of the means of production, and of Capital.
