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PLJ1

This document discusses the tension between idealism and realism in pursuing power and status. It notes that many idealists become disillusioned realists over time, believing that giving up is realistic. It explores whether everyone secretly wants to feel like a victim to gain glory, and whether idealists disregard social systems to live meagerly according to their ideals. It also examines how the locus of control is internal for idealists but external for power-hungry realists. In the end, it questions whether power is truly important or necessary to compromise one's ideals.

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Kriti Lakhotia
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90 views1 page

PLJ1

This document discusses the tension between idealism and realism in pursuing power and status. It notes that many idealists become disillusioned realists over time, believing that giving up is realistic. It explores whether everyone secretly wants to feel like a victim to gain glory, and whether idealists disregard social systems to live meagerly according to their ideals. It also examines how the locus of control is internal for idealists but external for power-hungry realists. In the end, it questions whether power is truly important or necessary to compromise one's ideals.

Uploaded by

Kriti Lakhotia
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Idealism, Virtue or Naivety Sooner or later, many idealists transform themselves into disheartened realists who believe that

giving up is the same thing as being realistic. -Seth Godin in Poke the Box Reading just the first few pages of Power- Why Some People Have It And Others Dont? by Jeffrey Pfeffer makes me wonder if I am the quintessential character Beth longing to be the extremely successful Anne albeit the ideal way. A few more pages and some conversations later, one begins to wonder if everyone is a shade of Beth longing to achieve more power and status. For everyone wants to feel victimized by the environment, may be because of the glory that comes attached with it. Just as the ideal self sacrificing standalones-Ayn Rands characters in all her books, an idealist will (or at least want to) disregard the whole social system and choose to live a meager life in the absence of the ideal. The locus of control is always internal whereas for a power hungry realist it is more on the external side as Pfeffer mentions in the same book. The truth is that some idealists are looked up to where as the others are not. And not so surprisingly the difference lies in their capability to woo people. Image and reputation do seem to be the cornerstones of the power gamble as I have observed in various scenarios. Image does ride over content many a times. Even given all the agreement, I still wonder if power is important at all.. If being the cynosure is the most motivating for everyone. Even given if it is, is it really about giving up your ideals and getting down to the so called dirty business of politics and manipulation. Why cant the art be greater than the artist? Moreover, arent the standalones who were ridiculed in their lives also the ones who are remembered for the longest time after their deaths, be it Darwin or Copernicus? Some men see things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not? -George Bernard Shaw

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