Good, not so good, bad, not so bad, in my opinion everyone is an idealist, only degree and intensity varies. People may get disturbed witnessing ideal behavior exhibited by others but do not hate them for that. On a scale of idealism, we can roughly fix the humanity in four distinct places.
Corrupt Idealists (on a scale of 10, around .0002): They believe in idealism at the same time strongly believe that it never works. So all they look for is the short cuts to money, fame and for other necessities of survival needs. They have totally forgotten their desire to be an idealist.
Pragmatic Idealists (on a scale of 10, around 2 or 3): They live by idealism as long as it does not demand serious sacrifices. They follow the rules, if it causes too much of inconvenience then they do not mind overlooking the rules. Art of compromise is essential for them to live in this world.
Vulnerable Idealists (on a scale of 10, around 5 or 6): They speak idealism and live by it. They make sure that everyone knows that they are idealists. They insist that everyone should live an ideal life, and then only the world will be a better place. When they need to pay price for their high moral stand, they do pay it but not happy about it. As a result they may get depressed and frustrated in the longer run of life, in case they are allowed to live longer.
Ideal Idealists (on a scale of 10, around 8 or 9): Their idealism is rooted on and emerges from their experience. For them it is a way of life. They share their wisdom but do not force it on others. They also pay the price but willingly and happily. Socrateses and Bhagat singhs of the world belong to this group, that is the reason Socrates could treat poison as cold drink and swallow it painlessly, and Bhagat singh could kiss the rope on which he was going to be hanged.
I personally feel sympathy for the third group, good guys basically, awareness of idealism mostly at the cognitive level, added to that their innocence and ignorance get mixed up in a complicated manner. They want to change the world in their life time itself; as a result they live in a perpetual turbulence.
Father, do u think that people change from one stage of idealism to other with more experience and time..because i feel that idealists during there younger days are basically pragmatic and vulnerable..but can they become the ideal idealists type with more struggle and experience..or is it the other way around?
ReplyDeleteHi Nitish, People do move from one stage to other. People who come across as idealists in their younger time frequently belong to the third stage; they have seen some idealists (relatives/teachers etc.) and try to emulate them. It is perfectly alright, since it’s not grounded in personal struggle and experiences they are vulnerable to disappointments often they get ridiculed rather than admired, and they may regresses to the first stage or second. But if he or she does some serious reflection on meaning of his/her life and finds it even vaguely, it helps that person to move to the stage four.
ReplyDelete