I me [Watakushi]
Idealism
Identity
Image
Imagination
Instinct
Intent
Interaction
Interface
Intuition (chokkan)
Isyoo
Idealism
The root meaning of ri in riso is&sbquo "When polishing a lapis stone&sbquo it will be more beautiful the more it is polished along its grains." Derived from this&sbquo the meaning of ri for "along the grain" (= being rational) was born. There is a word shinri (absolute truth) in buddhism. This refers to a truth that controls a phenomenon&sbquo even if that phenomenon is a superficial one. The so in riso means to grasp the subject in your mind and give thought to it. Hence&sbquo riso means there is rationale in your thoughts. From these original meanings&sbquo it can be established as a concept for a way something should absolutely be in the future although it is not yet realized&sbquo or something that has to be established to make sense&sbquo or otherwise it will not make sense as how people live. In other words&sbquo riso is the most perfected state in which human rationality&sbquo emotion and sensitivity are sufficiently satisfied. Riso represents the optimal form as the ultimate destination&sbquo and even includes absolute eternity and the highest virtue that are completely impossible to realize. Therefore&sbquo advocating that ideal and making it into a doctrine (ism) is called riso-shugi (idealism). However&sbquo since it places importance on assertions and doctrine&sbquo it certainly has an aspect of conceptualism to a great extent. Nevertheless&sbquo idealism has a purpose and objective separated from mere conceptualism&sbquo and extends to the essential nature of existence of the human being. This can also be seen in a line in the Japanese Constitution that says the Japanese are "deeply conscious of the high ideals controlling human relationship..." From these meanings&sbquo concepts&sbquo and conceptuality&sbquo it is possible to define design as an actual act of creating harmony and order in the lifestyle and sociality of the human being. That is&sbquo design can be said to be an effective and absolute methodology&sbquo philosophy&sbquo and means of execution for realizing idealism. I think it is possible to demonstrate the concept and philosophy of idealism as phenomena using design itself.