Is saying 'romantic idealism' a tautology?

Question

ie. is the idea of romanticism sufficiently represented by the word 'idealism' thus rendering the preceding word, 'romantic', pointless?

Hmmm, I don't see how Douglas B. Please enlighten me

Answer 1

No. Romanticism is a form of idealism, but idealism isn't a form of romanticism. It's like saying that bananas are yellow, but the reverse isn't true, that what is yellow will be bananas. "Romantic idealism" is a redundant term, however, and one should simply say "romanticism".

Answer 2

Wow, I feel sorry you are getting such negative answers. Love is not the end-all but people think so mainly because it is the evidence of a much deeper process. When we love something, it gives us the passion and determination to acheive our goal. As humans we need motivation in order to continue on. People see that for the sake of love people act, and that is why we see the romantic ideology. As a people we have to change the mindset of individuals in order to promote what we believe. We sometimes use the easiest means of evidence we find, in this case love. Every great leader, or any leader in general, did not acheive anything without a passion for what they were doing. They were motivated and the evidence is what was displayed. As a random last thought, we also need something to believe in and as apathy becomes more popular, this is an easy thing to hang on to. As for Romeo and Juliet, that was a made up story to get Shakespeare a paycheck...I do not think that should be used as an example.

Answer 3

I would say no. Idealism could be cold and calculating such as Nazism which is anything but romantic.

Answer 4

No, but using 'saying' and 'tautology' in the same phrase is tautology!

*add - well, tautology is 'saying the same thing twice in the same sentence', so you've really asked if saying something is saying something!

Answer 5

Yes?

Answer 6

No - neither is writing it.

Answer 7

what?????