On the death of idealism

[Morley]

On another thread:

I don't see your principles as being in contradiction to critical theory, but I certainly could be missing something.

Sorry, I skipped over some of my thinking in making that comment. In the course of the discussion it appears to me that critical theory is essentially post-modern critiques of legal and social structures. Given idealism is anathema to post-modernism, well.

I've lived my life based on certain Idealistic premises. I joined the service, got married, got divorced, participated in religion, left religion, chose my profession, attended university, and chose another profession, all based on what I thought was a set of "what is the right thing to do" principles. Though not all of these panned out, I still maintain a sort of idealist framework that I work from.

Increasingly, I've come to fear that we live in a post-idealistic world. I see the 6th of January as a signpost on this road. What happens to us when everything, every concept, every ideal, every fact, is up for grabs and subject to redefinition and subsumed by relentless, spur-of-the-moment reframing? (I'm thinking, for example, of a fellow poster's insistence that 'nuance' will excuse anything.)

Heh. Maybe I'm just profoundly depressed by the anniversary of the capital insurrection. I dunno.

What are your thoughts?

[Jersey Girl]

Is doing what is right to do part of Idealism? Could you or someone else define Idealism?

[Chap]

Is doing what is right to do part of Idealism? Could you or someone else define Idealism?

I think, though I may be wrong, that when Morley says

I've lived my life based on certain Idealistic premises.

He simply means that he has tried to base his life on certain ideals, in this case meaning certain ethical principles.

[Jersey Girl]

Is doing what is right to do part of Idealism? Could you or someone else define Idealism?

I think, though I may be wrong, that when Morley says

I've lived my life based on certain Idealistic premises.

He simply means that he has tried to base his life on certain ideals, in this case meaning certain ethical principles.

I am sure I am confusing it with my Idealist temperament/personality as per the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and also the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator results. It's not far from what you have said here though. Kinda sorta.

[Gadianton]

Increasingly, I've come to fear that we live in a post-idealistic world. I see the 6th of January as a signpost on this road.

Aren't these people over-the-top "idealists"?

Isn't that "Nuancer" a hopeless optimist when it comes to all societal institutions he identifies with?

[Jersey Girl]

Gad when Morley talks about Idealism is he talking about philosophy or psychology? Or something else? I don't know much about philosophy.

[Gadianton]

I think H was talking phil and Morley responded with common sense. That will teach H.

[Jersey Girl]

I think H was talking phil and Morley responded with common sense. That will teach H.

That helps. Thanks!

[Morley]

I think H was talking phil and Morley responded with common sense. That will teach H.

Ha! You may be right, Gad.

I’m talking about living for some idea(s) bigger than yourself. My knowledge of philosophy ranks with my knowledge of mechanical engineering. Obviously.

[Morley]

Increasingly, I've come to fear that we live in a post-idealistic world. I see the 6th of January as a signpost on this road.

Aren't these people over-the-top "idealists"?

Isn't that "Nuancer" a hopeless optimist when it comes to all societal institutions he identifies with?

I’m not seeing it, Gad. I can’t figure out what idea or ideal the January Sixers would be after. Loyalty to Trump, yes. Loyalty to some abstract ideal? I don’t know what it would be.

Maybe I’m out of my depth.

Help me out with something more than a meme, Binger.