Idealism Vs. Pragmatism

Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows.

David T. Wolf

Idealism is a philosophy which approaches the states of nature on the basis of ideas and values. Idealism as explained in the American Heritage Dictionary:

Philosophy: The theory that the object of external perception, in itself or as perceived, consists of ideas. The act or practice of envisioning things in an ideal form or the pursuit of one's ideals.

Pragmatism is a philosophy which approaches the state of nature in practical terms. Pragmatism, as explained in the American Heritage Dictionary:

Philosophy : A movement consisting of varying but associated theories, originally developed by Charles S. Pierce and William James and distinguished by the doctrine that the meaning of an idea or a proposition lies in its observable practical consequences. A practical, matter-of-fact way of approaching or assessing situations or of solving problems

I have been an avid reader of various forms of educational tales which are a part of our heritage like the Aesop’s fables, stories from the Panchtantra and the Jataka tales.

I am relating below the tale of the “Wolf and the Crane” from the Aesop’s Fables to highlight the points of Idealism and Pragmatism. There is a slight deviation which I would I would attribute to “poetic license”.

The Wolf and the Crane

A Wolf had been feasting on an animal he had killed, when a small bone stuck in his throat. He could not swallow the bone and feeling terrible pain he started howling and jumping up and down. With tears in his eyes he beseeched all to help him, promising all sorts of rewards. At last a crane agreed to try. He told the wolf to lie on his side and open his jaw as wide as he could. The crane then put its long neck inside the Wolf’s neck and removed the bone.

This version shows the crane in an ideal state willing to help out from a sense of morality and human values, unmindful of the danger to its neck.

The next version, goes as follows. A crane approaches the wolf and agrees to help. Before putting its long neck inside the Wolf’s jaw it places a stick between the jaw, to prevent the jaw from shutting down and biting its neck off, and then proceeds to remove the bone. This version shows the caution with which the crane proceeds, helpful, but aware of the risk, the wolf might bite its neck off.

To face this world and get solutions one needs to be Idealistic, however you have to be worldly wise like the crane, in the second version and ensure that your concerns are addressed. An Idealist who is not pragmatic would become a cynic.

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In today’s context, is the debate of the 700 billion dollar bailout, a fight between Idealism and Pragmatism? The issue of letting market forces working things out in a capitalist society, or letting Wall St. pay for its sins, in an idealistic manner vs. the pragmatic view that the economy needs to be revived and credit has to come in?