Why It Is Important To Be Pragmatic

Idealism can prevent you from being successful. Being pragmatic can help you to succeed and achieve your goals.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines idealism as “the practice of forming ideals or living under their influence,” “something that is idealized,” and “a theory that ultimate reality lies in a realm transcending phenomena” or can be found through reason and consciousness.

The problem with idealism is that you are idealizing an idea, concept, or belief to what you think its theoretical form should be. The world of how things ought to be are where academics, philosophers, theologians, and politicians like to spend their time. The first three deal primarily with abstract and theoretical questions. Questions that the average person could likely care less about.

Politicians deal with idealism by selling a vision of what they will do when they get into political office to benefit their constituents. It is mainly sold in politics as progressing toward something or wanting to conserve specific values, traditions, or beliefs. In this way, politicians use idealism to encourage people to support them. Whether or not they follow through and bring about what they promised to do, is up to you to decide.

Ideas do not provide you with tangible benefits in this world. An idea in and of itself will not help you to put food on your table. An ideal will not help you better your situation in life. Certain ideals could hinder your personal growth. Ideas are merely knowledge. Knowledge without application means that they do not practically benefit you. Being pragmatic is simply wanting to deal with problems in a realistic way.

Knowledge is not power. Applied knowledge is power.