If you can afford it, go idealism.
Anyone who rejects idealism outright is a coward.
By idealism, I mean a state of mind that is willing to believe in the best case scenario. There are certainly times when compromise is needed for progress, but this does not preclude idealism. Idealism is not an irrational belief that everything can and should be as good as we can imagine, but rather a headspace that recognizes ideal conditions and possesses a will to create and promote those conditions wherever possible. Idealism tries where 'realism' remains complacent. Idealism is one of the spirits of change. By 'realism' in quotations, I mean complacency, which is essentially a state induced by the fear that your ideals will never happen, so you resign yourself to lesser values, and dishonestly make them your highest. The journey of idealism does not always succeed in its ends, but traveling upon it is a more courageous, and often more honest existence. Idealism is not foolishness, it is the enemy of defeatism, even in the moments when you are defeated.
Idealism is not a substitute for careful thought, though. Quite the contrary, healthy idealism requires constant re-evaluation of all the elements of life around a person - a habit that most do not have the stamina or willpower for. Life is not static, and as things change, so must our understandings of what is ideal.
One idealism will never be exactly the same as another. I do not claim that it is an objective entity. This creates a tricky situation: It is difficult for an external observer to know if another's values are their ideal, or a settled for complacency. This requires everyone to be honest with themselves, and there's no lie harder to detect than one you tell yourself.
Idealism is reasonable in character, because what is truly ideal does not stray from reality, and the factors of our realities often produce conflicting circumstances, catch-22s, and all manner of factors that muddy up our answers and force us to settle for the best solution currently possible. Idealism allows for this, but persists in announcing its imaginings for the future.
Idealism risks breeding disappointed people. That is why idealism is better suited for those who do not fear the experience of disappointment, but neither allow it to rules their lives. Successful idealism depends strongly on substantial personal fortitude and independence. A successful idealist delights in principle and does not depend heavily on external factors for satisfaction. The complacent take what external factors they can and bend their minds to make them 'good enough', putting better possibilities out of mind into the realms of 'impossible', 'foolish' and 'unrealistic'. Idealism makes good, but does not forget.
Idealism is a path to itself. Its patience and dedication will wait for any individual to develop enough patience and dedication to find it, and make it able to work for them. Idealism realizes that it isn't for everyone, but is more than willing to help people in small doses to a place where it can be applied more broadly.
So when you have the mental and spiritual strength to afford it, go idealism in every moment you can.
By idealism, I mean a state of mind that is willing to believe in the best case scenario. There are certainly times when compromise is needed for progress, but this does not preclude idealism. Idealism is not an irrational belief that everything can and should be as good as we can imagine, but rather a headspace that recognizes ideal conditions and possesses a will to create and promote those conditions wherever possible. Idealism tries where 'realism' remains complacent. Idealism is one of the spirits of change. By 'realism' in quotations, I mean complacency, which is essentially a state induced by the fear that your ideals will never happen, so you resign yourself to lesser values, and dishonestly make them your highest. The journey of idealism does not always succeed in its ends, but traveling upon it is a more courageous, and often more honest existence. Idealism is not foolishness, it is the enemy of defeatism, even in the moments when you are defeated.
Idealism is not a substitute for careful thought, though. Quite the contrary, healthy idealism requires constant re-evaluation of all the elements of life around a person - a habit that most do not have the stamina or willpower for. Life is not static, and as things change, so must our understandings of what is ideal.
One idealism will never be exactly the same as another. I do not claim that it is an objective entity. This creates a tricky situation: It is difficult for an external observer to know if another's values are their ideal, or a settled for complacency. This requires everyone to be honest with themselves, and there's no lie harder to detect than one you tell yourself.
Idealism is reasonable in character, because what is truly ideal does not stray from reality, and the factors of our realities often produce conflicting circumstances, catch-22s, and all manner of factors that muddy up our answers and force us to settle for the best solution currently possible. Idealism allows for this, but persists in announcing its imaginings for the future.
Idealism risks breeding disappointed people. That is why idealism is better suited for those who do not fear the experience of disappointment, but neither allow it to rules their lives. Successful idealism depends strongly on substantial personal fortitude and independence. A successful idealist delights in principle and does not depend heavily on external factors for satisfaction. The complacent take what external factors they can and bend their minds to make them 'good enough', putting better possibilities out of mind into the realms of 'impossible', 'foolish' and 'unrealistic'. Idealism makes good, but does not forget.
Idealism is a path to itself. Its patience and dedication will wait for any individual to develop enough patience and dedication to find it, and make it able to work for them. Idealism realizes that it isn't for everyone, but is more than willing to help people in small doses to a place where it can be applied more broadly.
So when you have the mental and spiritual strength to afford it, go idealism in every moment you can.
posted by Jasper C. Coligny at 3:29 PM
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