What is Inmanence in Philosophy?

Inmanence is a philosophical concept that refers to immanence, that is, that which is present within something, without manifesting itself externally. In philosophy, inmanence is often contrasted with transcendence, which refers to that which is beyond or above something. Inmanence is a central theme in several philosophical currents, including idealism, materialism and pantheism. In this glossary, we will explore in detail the concept of inmanence in philosophy and its main characteristics.

Origin and development of the concept of inmanence

The concept of inmanence has its roots in ancient philosophy, especially Greek philosophy. However, it was in modern philosophy that the concept gained greater prominence and development. Philosophers such as Baruch Spinoza and Friedrich Nietzsche were important for understanding and elaborating the concept of inmanence.

Spinoza, for example, defended the idea that God and nature are one and the same thing, that is, God is immanent in nature. For him, everything that exists is part of a single divine substance, which is immanent in all things. Nietzsche, in his work “Thus Spoke Zarathustra”, addresses inmanence as an alternative to the traditional conception of God as something transcendent and separate from the world.

Characteristics of inmanence in philosophy

Inmanence in philosophy has some fundamental characteristics that distinguish it from transcendence. Firstly, inmanence refers to the immanence of something within oneself, that is, something that is present internally, without manifesting externally. This means that inmanence is related to the idea of ​​interiority, of something that is within us or within the world.

Furthermore, inmanence is also associated with the idea of ​​the immanence of something in everything that exists. This means that inmanence is not limited to a single entity or being, but is present in all things. Inmanence is, therefore, a universal characteristic that encompasses everything that exists.

The relationship between inmanence and transcendence

The relationship between inmanence and transcendence is an important theme in philosophy. While inmanence refers to what is present within something, without manifesting itself externally, transcendence refers to what is beyond or above something. These two concepts are often contrasted and seen as opposites.

However, some philosophers argue that inmanence and transcendence are not necessarily opposites, but can coexist. For example, the French philosopher Henri Bergson defended the idea of ​​an “immanent transcendence”, in which the transcendent is present within the immanent. According to Bergson, the transcendent is not separated from the immanent, but is present in it immanently.

Inmanence in idealist philosophy

Inmanence is a central concept in idealist philosophy, which defends the idea that reality is constituted by ideas or minds. For idealists, inmanence refers to the immanence of ideas or minds in reality. According to this perspective, reality is not something external to our minds, but is immanent to them.

One of the main idealist philosophers who addressed inmanence was George Berkeley. For Berkeley, reality consists of ideas that are perceived by minds. He argued that things only exist when they are perceived, that is, the existence of things depends on their immanence in minds.

Inmanence in materialist philosophy

In materialist philosophy, inmanence refers to the immanence of matter in reality. Materialists argue that reality is made up of matter, which is immanent in all things. For materialists, the inmanence of matter is the basis for understanding reality and all the phenomena that constitute it.

One of the main materialist philosophers who addressed inmanence was Karl Marx. For Marx, the inmanence of matter in reality is the basis for understanding social and economic relations. He argued that social and economic reality is determined by the immanence of matter, that is, by the material conditions of existence.

Inmanence in pantheism

In pantheism, inmanence refers to the immanence of God in nature. Pantheism is a philosophical and religious current that defends the idea that God is immanent in all things. For pantheists, God is not something transcendent and separate from the world, but is present in all things immanently.

One of the main pantheistic philosophers who addressed inmanence was Baruch Spinoza. For Spinoza, God and nature are one and the same thing, that is, God is immanent in nature. He argued that everything that exists is part of a single divine substance, which is immanent in all things.

Conclusion

Inmanence is a philosophical concept that refers to immanence, that is, that which is present within something, without manifesting itself externally. In philosophy, inmanence is contrasted with transcendence and is a central theme in several philosophical currents, including idealism, materialism and pantheism. Inmanence has fundamental characteristics, such as the immanence of something within itself and the immanence of something in everything that exists. The relationship between inmanence and transcendence is an important topic in philosophy, and some philosophers argue that these two concepts can coexist. Inmanence is approached differently in philosophical currents such as idealism, materialism and pantheism. In idealism, inmanence refers to the immanence of ideas or minds in reality. In materialism, inmanence refers to the immanence of matter in reality. In pantheism, inmanence refers to the immanence of God in nature. In summary, inmanence is a complex and multifaceted philosophical concept that plays a fundamental role in understanding reality and the relationships between beings and things.