• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Idealism: Good, bad, or ugly?

Idealism is...

  • Total voters
    14
radcen said:
Idealism. Is it good? Bad? Both? Neither?
Click to expand...

Idealism is a pernicious philosophy in that it effectively denies the existence of objective reality, asserting that reality is fundamentally mental.

On the other hand, if, as I suspect, you are not actually referring to idealism but to principled behavior, which is part of courage or fortitude, then it is good.
 
Depends on your circumstances. The idealism of South Africa could be good, if you're not Afrikaner. If you're Afrikaner its absolutely evil.
 
radcen said:
Idealism. Is it good? Bad? Both? Neither?
Click to expand...

Idealism is good so long as it's guided by a practical understanding of how the world and human nature actually function.
 
I think it's good to have an ideal you constantly strive for. It's easy to be stagnant when never pursuing self betterment in any field
 
Paleocon said:
principled behavior, which is part of courage or fortitude, then it is good.
Click to expand...

Have you ever considering indulging in that, yourself?
 
Paleocon said:
Yes. I do. Is there something you're getting at?
Click to expand...

I guess I'm having a difficult time seeing either the courage or the fortitude inherent in promoting Neo-Nazi ideology behind the safe anonymity of the internet.
 
It all depends. it is sometimes both. It becomes a bad thing when people become miltiant about it and demand that everybody obey them or they will hurt you.

When you're just trying to help people, especially without thought of reward or the other kinds of crap, then it can be a good thing.

Charity at the point of a gun ceases to become charity and instead becomes highway robbery, regardless of what tricky language one uses to hide it.
 
Last edited:
nothing wrong with being idealistic, a lot wrong with projecting idealistic notions into policy making, which must be based in reality in order to work.
 
Paleocon said:
Idealism is a pernicious philosophy in that it effectively denies the existence of objective reality, asserting that reality is fundamentally mental.

On the other hand, if, as I suspect, you are not actually referring to idealism but to principled behavior, which is part of courage or fortitude, then it is good.
Click to expand...
I have to give credit, where credit is due: this is a pretty good post.
 
I propose that we establish noble ideals, set aside our humane differences, and work together to establish direct contact with advanced alien human worlds.
 
Gardener said:
I guess I'm having a difficult time seeing either the courage or the fortitude inherent in promoting Neo-Nazi ideology behind the safe anonymity of the internet.
Click to expand...

I'm a reactionary, not a Nazi. It's not my fault that you don't know what you're talking about.
 
Cardinal said:
Idealism is good so long as it's guided by a practical understanding of how the world and human nature actually function.
Click to expand...

Hi Cardinal,

True, but can you define 'A Practical Understanding'? Especially since you also mention specifically 'The World'. I mean how many people have never left there home country? How many people regularly read/watch the news? And of the people who do regularly read/watch the news, how many of those read from sources that do not necessarily write in your own 'Colour'? These are just some of the basic criteria I think for what you refer to as 'A Practical Understanding'. I hope you agree with me that not many people would fit the bill.

And we do not have to look far for this. Even here in the forum there is a number of people that are very opinionated but do not necessarily know what they are talking about or have tried to understand views other then there own views.


Joey
 
It has its' place.

It's important to be idealistic and hopeful enough to inspire people, but that's not an excuse for naive and impractical political decisions.

Everything in moderation.

That's in relation to political leaders though.

As for being an idealist in general, it's much of the same, you have to be realistic and practical.
 
Both.


Idealism, when not tempered by the facts or reality, tends to be very very bad.



However, plans rooted and developed entirely on reality, without taking any sort of an ideal into account, tends to be a horrible plan.


You have to have something to strive for, or you will fail to strive, and failure to strive IS failure.
 
Idealism leads to chronic disappointment and perhaps mental illness. It's insisting the world be as we wish it were instead of dealing with it as it is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom