Can idealism survive?

Question

why is it equated with irrationality?
since when has honesty,dignity/self respect and conscience which are the pillars of idealism been so unreasonable?

Answer 1

If you are a true idealist, people tend to be either scared or fascinated by you or both. They may be worried that you are relatively fragile (idealists can get depressed about the imperfection, unfairness and ugliness of the world) or they may be envious of your relative innocence. Unfortunately, such envy is counter-productive as it makes the idealist wrongly feel that they are doing something wrong or that they are freakish.

They may consider you to be naive (when you are actually just trying to by pure-minded in an often impure world).

I always try to be idealistic about the things that I have a love of. Unfortunately, in a world that is more opportunistic than idealistic, most of my dreams, for myself and for the world, will not come true.

It is annoying to say the least that the subtleties of what some of the most intellectually and emotionally skilled people achieve are never fully recognised and that the more superficially 'personable' are promoted above people who really care about what they do. In terms of relationships, it is always grating to see some barely neanderthal half-wit manage to convince some beautiful girl that he is the epitiome of mature masculinity. Even idealists cannot be idealistic about the willingness of so many people to settle for not just second best but tenth best in many aspects of their lives when there are good people who get ignored on the grounds that they seem to appear boring.

Idealism is wonderful if you find other idealists to share your outlook with but otherwise it is like walking a tightrope, trying to avoid the stupid compromises and ugliness of the world.

One example of idealism that anyone can engage in is to have a tradition that you continue on for the rest of your life. It may not seem much but it shows a continuity in your personality which makes you more dependable than the majority.

Answer 2

Idealism is alive and well as long as there are people who believe in a better future and better ways of doing things.

One does not have to be silly romantic fool with rose coloured glasses to truly believe in a better world.

There is what I like to call "Realistic Idealism", it's when you are fully aware of everything that is going wrong around you but you have the awareness and intelligence to actually do something about it, even if it is only in small ways as an individual.

Sitting back and saying "everything in the world is crap and it isn't going to get any better every" will not change anything for the better.

The world can change one individual at a time, it is true that "if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem."

Be a seeker of solutions and be a true Idealist!

Answer 3

In an unstable, war-ridden society, idealism has a chance at survival. Idealism allows a lot of people to hold on to some hope even if they don't know that they're going to survive.

In a stable society, idealism may just be seen as an attempt to de-stablize what is already good because the stable society is bound to favor some more than others. It's stability is just indicative that everyone, at this moment, is placated and somewhat content with how they live.

Answer 4

Idealists believe the best.
Pessimists fear the worst.
Realists weigh pros & cons, assess situations as they really are and make judgments based on facts rather than abstract emotions.

I try to be a realist, but sometimes I am a dreamer & other times a nihilist.

I don't know if idealism can survive in today's world. It's hard to keep hoping for the best & having your hopes dashed. I think realism is the best course. See things as they are. Hope for the best, expect the worst, be prepared to deal with whatever comes your way.

Answer 5

Only idealism survives In the long run. Rationality may give short term gains and stability for a short run. But for the long term survival, stability and success idealism is the best. That's why the Hindu Scriptures say, "Dharmo Rakshati Rakshita" meaning The Righteousness save the one who keeps THAT.

Answer 6

It is a a bit hard idealism to survive in this material world. people don't understand you what are you trying to do. They always say " are you trying to save the world, come on..." but actually...you can do differences in this universe with baby steps to major events.

I'm idealist and I feel just great the way I am. Better idealist than cold and rational.

Answer 7

Idealism will survive. Because its inside us. If we believe in it no matter what the world does to tamper with it, it will remain there: in our minds and heart forever. The world cant do anything if Idealism is a part of our nature. People crucified Jesus but did his idealism come to an end? No. it persevered and it still remains.

Answer 8

unfortunate but true, that idealists look at life in black or white while the reality is far more colorful than that.
This makes it very difficult for the the people who are idealist by nature to survive in the real world, more often than not, they are made to make compromise which is not a very satisfying experience for one.

Answer 9

Absolutely, it is human nature to try to think of a better way of doing things.

Whilever there are people, there will be idealists.

As Radical says above, there will also always be dissappointed idealists too... but they will continue to exist none-the-less!!

Answer 10

ideals change, but as long as there is human consciousness idealism has to survive.