Final answer:
Idealism and materialism differ on the nature of reality, where idealism asserts that reality is mind-based and spiritual, whereas materialism claims that only material substance exists and constitutes reality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference between Idealism and Materialism
On what key point do idealism and materialism differ? The two philosophical doctrines fundamentally differ on B) The nature of reality.
Idealism posits that reality, or the nature of reality, is primarily based on the mind or spiritual essence. It indicates that material objects exist only as aspects of the mind's awareness. Idealism suggests that everything that exists is bound by our perceptions and the cognitive structures through which we observe the universe. Thus, the material world is not considered independent of the minds that perceive it.
On the other hand, Materialism asserts that the only thing that exists is material substance. Reality is composed of matter, and everything that can be observed is a manifestation of these material properties. Unlike idealists, materialists believe that things exist with or without minds to perceive them.
The key differences between these two views lie in what they consider 'real.' While idealists emphasize consciousness or spirit, materialists focus on physical matter and the processes that can be observed and measured in the natural world.