2006-09-13 08:11:01 · 10 answers · asked by martin 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
believer, optomist
2006-09-13 08:25:18 · answer #1 · answered by Sillira 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A cynic tends to see through appearances in such fashion that they seem to believe they are seeing the 'reality' behind the appearance. But the reality they appear to be seeing tends to be negative or shows things in a negative light. So they see ulterior motives that they believe are self-seeking or selfish, or mean, or greedy, or bestial.
The opposite of a cynic is somebody who when they see behind the appearance they tend to believe the best of the intentions that have motivated the actions of the individual or group that produces the appearances. So for them human beings are basically well-meaning. They believe that the heart of an individual is for the most part good. The well-spring of the heart is for the most part well-meaning, spontaneously good. They also believe that if a person has done something bad or negative, that same person is also capable of good and more: that people, generally, are capable of redemption on many levels.
So there are probably several words together which compose the opposite of a cynic. The cynic tends to put the true reality in a bad light. The opposite of a cynic is one who tends to see and believe that the true reality behind most appearances is good or can be good.
But the non-cynic need not be one-sided or naive at all. The opposite of a cynic is simply a person who does not only see the negative or believe that man and reality is ultimately bad or self-serving.
Moreover a person can go through phases where others judge them to be cynical. But that same person could be quite different down the road. A person who judges another person to be a cynic may well be showing early signs themselves of a latent cynicism. So there is a distributive property to both positive and negative qualities or attitudes in both individuals and societies. To avoid cynicism it is best to keep a balanced, fair, true perspective on oneself and others as much as possible.
One close opposite to the one-sided nature of cynicism is the person who keeps an open but balanced mind as they observe the world. They know reality is a balance between the opposites and that happiness is as real as despair. They are not one-sided.
B. Lyons
2006-09-13 16:43:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A cynic is a negative-thinking person, whereas an optimist is a positive-thinking person. The shading of the word "optimist," however, isn't the best choice...perhaps a "progressive" thinker would fit better.
2006-09-13 15:14:35 · answer #3 · answered by sunflowerjean63 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An Optimist.
2006-09-13 15:27:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person not driven by fear, or capable of acknowledging and owning it as coming from within oneself. One at peace, in other words.
2006-09-13 15:21:56 · answer #5 · answered by docjp 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Optimist or believer
2006-09-13 15:15:58 · answer #6 · answered by rosieC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An optimist.
2006-09-13 15:12:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A polyanna.
2006-09-13 15:18:01 · answer #8 · answered by Pundit 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a believer
2006-09-13 15:17:35 · answer #9 · answered by Ylia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a naieve person
2006-09-13 15:13:36 · answer #10 · answered by Uncle Tim 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋