Ben Curry provides an in-depth history of the contrasting philosophies of idealism and materialism.

These are the two fundamental trends in philosophy, which have re-appeared in various forms throughout the history of human thought. Marxism basis itself on a materialist outlook, which understands the material world as being an objective reality, consisting of matter in motion, governed by dynamics that are knowable and discoverable. Idealism, in its different guises, asserts that ideas and thoughts are primary; the world around us is only an imperfect reflection of these ideas. But what are the political implications of these differing world views?