I think this term has been corrupted and has become synonymous with naivety for many people.
Quote:
i·de·al·ism Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ahy-dee-uh-liz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1. the cherishing or pursuit of high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc. 2. the practice of idealizing. 3. something idealized; an ideal representation. 4. Fine Arts. treatment of subject matter in a work of art in which a mental conception of beauty or form is stressed, characterized usually by the selection of particular features of various models and their combination into a whole according to a standard of perfection. Compare naturalism (def. 2), realism (def. 3a). 5. Philosophy. a. any system or theory that maintains that the real is of the nature of thought or that the object of external perception consists of ideas. b. the tendency to represent things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are, with emphasis on values.
[Origin: 1790–1800; ideal + -ism, prob. modeled on G Idealismus]
Quote:
Main Entry: ide·al·ism Pronunciation: \ī-ˈdē-(ə-)ˌliz-əm, ˈī-(ˌ)dē-\ Function: noun Date: 1796 1 a (1): a theory that ultimate reality lies in a realm transcending phenomena (2): a theory that the essential nature of reality lies in consciousness or reason b (1): a theory that only the perceptible is real (2): a theory that only mental states or entities are knowable 2 a: the practice of forming ideals or living under their influence b: something that is idealized 3: literary or artistic theory or practice that affirms the preeminent value of imagination as compared with faithful copying of nature — compare realism
I believe that there is often the idea that idealism is associated with youth, and once a person either "matures" or "sees the world for what it is" this youthful idealism should fade away. Why is this? I hope that with age I never lose my ideals. Granted, I'm sure they will evolve from where they currently are, but I surely hope I never turn my back on them and change completely. I believe that maintaining idealism late into life is a noble thing, representing that a person's ideals are stronger than the corruptive outside forces. Is losing idealism a sign of giving up? Of being continually disappointed by a world which fails to live up to your lofty hopes and expectations? Or is it really a sign of maturity; giving up youthful, and therefore unrealistic, notions of the world?
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Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2005 12:37 pm Posts: 7376 Location: Vlaardingen, Netherlands Gender: Female
I believe in keeping your dreams and ideals too, no matter what age you reach. Other people, often bitter or 'grown up' (read: caught up in daily life), dismiss it as 'naive'. That's easy and closes all discussion.
groetjes, Mirella
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Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2004 12:20 am Posts: 5198 Location: Connecticut Gender: Male
It's great to have ideals, but I think it's only natural to change as you get older. As sad as it may be, I think people reach a point where they just have other things to worry about, like work, kids, family etc... Life is stressful, and after struggling with everyday life all day, it's hard to get fired up over anything else.
I don't think people necessarily lose them, I think people naturally tend to focus on what's immediately important to them like their children or career and as a result just lose focus of their ideals. My agenda during the next year: Keep going to college part-time, work full-time, get married next June, buy a house, start planning/saving for kids... No time to change the world.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:47 am Posts: 46000 Location: Reasonville
since my quote was what sparked this thread to exist, i should explain:
corduroy_blazer wrote:
because i'm not voting for john mccain, and because i'm no longer the wholly idealist person i used to be.
in 2004 in somewhat campaigned for and voted for ralph nader. i was all gung ho about the "lesser of two evils" and the two-party system being a load of crap. i agreed with nader more than i agreed with kerry or bush.
since, i've opened my eyes a bit. i don't think nader lost gore the election in '00 -- hell, gore lost his home state, and we do have a system where we are allowed multiple candidates, and i do view this as a good thing. however, with the direction of the country, i feel as if not allowing mccain into office is more important than sticking with a grassroots candidate who will make little change on the political landscape. so, perhaps this is a temporary change for me -- kinda like those who ditched nader in '04 for kerry (eddie vedder, i'm looking at you, pal) -- or perhaps i've merely lost an ideal. i don't know.
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Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:48 pm Posts: 4320 Location: Philadelphia, PA
I don't think that most people give up their ideals as they get older. As one's life experience increases, I think that one begins to realize that dogmatic adherence to the vagueness of "ideals" is not a practical way to live one's life. Idealism becomes a process, part of one's ethical system. Life presents us with many challenges that don't fit easily into rigidly dogmatic systems. We must then make choices based on our moral and ethical stances on a variety of different issues. This is grown-up idealism in practice. And hopefully our skill in making ethical choices continues to grow as we gain more experience.
Joined: Wed Dec 13, 2006 4:37 am Posts: 3610 Location: London, UK Gender: Female
Sandler wrote:
It's great to have ideals, but I think it's only natural to change as you get older. As sad as it may be, I think people reach a point where they just have other things to worry about, like work, kids, family etc... Life is stressful, and after struggling with everyday life all day, it's hard to get fired up over anything else.
I don't think people necessarily lose them, I think people naturally tend to focus on what's immediately important to them like their children or career and as a result just lose focus of their ideals. My agenda during the next year: Keep going to college part-time, work full-time, get married next June, buy a house, start planning/saving for kids... No time to change the world.
basically you say people become more selfish.
which is probably true.
I'm a cynical idealist, and I'm too old to change now
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Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:15 pm Posts: 25452 Location: Under my wing like Sanford & Son Gender: Male
SLH916 wrote:
I don't think that most people give up their ideals as they get older. As one's life experience increases, I think that one begins to realize that dogmatic adherence to the vagueness of "ideals" is not a practical way to live one's life. Idealism becomes a process, part of one's ethical system. Life presents us with many challenges that don't fit easily into rigidly dogmatic systems. We must then make choices based on our moral and ethical stances on a variety of different issues. This is grown-up idealism in practice. And hopefully our skill in making ethical choices continues to grow as we gain more experience.
Exactly what I was going to say.
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