Faithfulness to Goodness, Truth, and Beauty: The Need for Idealists Today

Diane Chamberlain, an American writer born in 1950, in her book Necessary Lies proposes the idea: ‘Isn’t that what’s most important, to be able to choose what we want most in life?’ Everyone has priorities that guide their actions. For some, these may be linked to utility and benefit, for others to a sense of meaning and mission, and yet for others to pleasure or even the pursuit of happiness.

At first glance, we may be unaware of what drives us, but upon deeper reflection, most of us could describe and characterize our priorities. Those who are considered to be firmly grounded, often guided by pragmatism, are typically labeled realists. In contrast, those who are seen as having their heads in the clouds are often viewed as idealists. But how accurate are these perceptions in reflecting the actual state of our minds?

Idealists: Who Are They?

The concept of idealism, in its deepest sense, owes much to Plato, who in the 4th century BCE formulated the theory of perfect entities, or patterns, that every person should follow. He named these ideal priorities ‘ideas’, and the accompanying theory ‘idealism.’ In their original meaning, ideas represented what is unchanging, eternal, immune to alteration, and therefore perfect. Ideas were what persisted, unaffected by time, continually serving as a constant point of reference for humanity.

As Plato said, ‘Things become; ideas exist.’ Ideas, like lighthouses, were meant to guide humans who often find themselves lost in the multitude of tasks and choices. Ideal patterns have guided one to the right path, suggesting the best course of action, especially from a moral standpoint. In the spirit of his idealism, Plato believed in a higher dimension above us where ideas are rooted, and our real world is just an imperfect reflection of this ideal realm.

Translating Plato’s theory to contemporary times, it could be argued that the understanding of idealists has changed little. A 21st-century idealist is someone who believes in the existence of perfect values and strives to be guided by them in daily choices. When Plato pointed to Goodness, Truth, and Beauty as the classical triad of the highest ideals, he clearly defined a direction for future generations. His concept concretely suggested which values one should remain faithful to in order to be moral.

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Each person can and has the right to interpret these values differently, to understand them in their own subjective way, but in Plato’s view, their essence – what is most important about them – remains unchanged. Goodness, Truth, and Beauty reveal themselves in various dimensions – everyone understands and perceives them differently, but they themselves remain constant. The fundamental question is: can we today, in the 21st century, still believe in these timeless ideal patterns of behavior?

Implementing Goodness, Truth, and Beauty Today

What does faithfulness to these ideals mean for the contemporary individual? How can it be actualized to lead us towards positive change and make us more moral? Plato left two valuable clues for idealists of all times: imitation (Greek: mimesis) and participation (Greek: methexis).

In Book VII of The Republic, Plato writes: ‘At the top of the world of thought shines the idea of the Good, hard to see but once seen, it is recognized as the cause of all that is right and fair in everything […] in the visible world it provides light […] in the world of thought it rules and produces truth […] he who is to act wisely in private or in public must see it.’ We become better by imitating ideas, especially the most important one, the Good, in Plato’s view.

In everyday practice, this translates into showing simple, human kindness to others. Sometimes it involves small gestures of support, sensitivity, and help, other times serious decisions impacting others’ lives. Each of us can do good within our own capabilities. The realization of Truth boils down to everyday truthfulness and honesty.

The idealist does not accept lies, half-truths, or insincerity because faithfulness to Truth demands unwavering loyalty to the perfect model they agree with and wish to imitate. As Seneca the Elder said, ‘Two things give the soul the greatest strength: faithfulness to truth and belief in oneself.’ Following the traces of Beauty can be achieved in various ways: cultivating beautiful speech (avoiding hate speech, exclusion, and trolling), imparting beautiful content to younger generations to shape their sensitivity, and living beautiful life attitudes that future generations will never forget.

On the other hand, Plato points to participation, the awareness of being part of a larger community guided by the same values that build my identity. Each of us independently chooses the people we surround ourselves with, with whom we work, spend free time, and devote our engagement.

Participating in Goodness, Beauty, and Truth means readiness and courage to take responsibility for the actions we participate in, engage in, and endorse with our names. For Plato, the act of participation in a specific idea is a demonstration of moral posture. For idealists, there are no indifferent or neutral actions. Every choice contributes to something and carries consequences. Every small decision is part of a larger whole.

Why Are Idealists Necessary?

In the 21st century, a world dominated by pragmatism, continuous profit and loss calculations, and relentless self-advancement, do idealists still have a place? It often seems that in the face of contemporary world realities, they are doomed to failure. Amidst big interests and the blind pursuit of success at any cost, they seem unlikely to be heard, let alone appreciated. Yet, paradoxically, this is where the strength of their convictions lies.

Idealists are not guided by what is or is not valuable, or what is profitable or not. They are not concerned with popular opinion, knowing well that right does not always lie with the majority. In this sense, they are very resistant to external pressures because they are uncompromisingly faithful to the ideals they uphold. Let the words of Albert Schweitzer serve as a beacon for those who doubt the power of idealism. He aptly expressed a timeless wisdom: ‘The knowledge about life which we, adults, have to pass on to the young does not sound like: “Reality will thin out your ideals,” but rather: “Grow so intertwined with your ideals that life cannot deprive you of them.”

Translation: Klaudia Tarasiewicz