How do you motivate a realist?
A true realist perspective tends to based their woltenshuung (world view) around facts and power stuggle relations.
So does one dangle the ability to climb the corporate ladder, a quick way into the world of power and prestige?
What if thats not what they want? What if they just want a place in the world, and have no desire for the fluffy ideas of saving it or contributing to the greater good, since to a realist that technically doesnt exist, a social hiearchy of those that can achieve and maintain power are the fittest for survival, and thats that.
I guess there is something to be said for that outlook though, consider development work.
A noble act, one can find pleasure in helping those that are less fortunate or unable to care for themelves because they were born into a society of under-priviledge. But then who are we kidding? By walking into a small village and telling people, "This is not the way to live your life, THIS is the way" (of course refering to ones own perseption of the world, specifically that of a "developed" country)
So we can't go in and help them, because it only suppresses them more, creates more class division and assimilation, but we cannot leave them either, for many do need our help, and it should be the job of the priveldged to help those in need, thus restore balance.
What is the solution?
So does one dangle the ability to climb the corporate ladder, a quick way into the world of power and prestige?
What if thats not what they want? What if they just want a place in the world, and have no desire for the fluffy ideas of saving it or contributing to the greater good, since to a realist that technically doesnt exist, a social hiearchy of those that can achieve and maintain power are the fittest for survival, and thats that.
I guess there is something to be said for that outlook though, consider development work.
A noble act, one can find pleasure in helping those that are less fortunate or unable to care for themelves because they were born into a society of under-priviledge. But then who are we kidding? By walking into a small village and telling people, "This is not the way to live your life, THIS is the way" (of course refering to ones own perseption of the world, specifically that of a "developed" country)
So we can't go in and help them, because it only suppresses them more, creates more class division and assimilation, but we cannot leave them either, for many do need our help, and it should be the job of the priveldged to help those in need, thus restore balance.
What is the solution?
posted by Kurt | 9/12/2005 03:48:00 PM
1 Comments:
"By walking into a small village and telling people, "This is not the way to live your life, THIS is the way" (of course refering to ones own perseption of the world, specifically that of a "developed" country)"
I don't believe that is the underlying objective of development. The biggest contribution one could have in any developing initiative is to change mindsets and is also the biggest challenge. If you can make the people in a village see why it is that they should be open to accepting help, and possibly changing their life then I believe half your battle is won. But that is the biggest challenge and often times is impossible. This ofcourse boils down to education, which is the greatest good one can do in development. Teach them to help themselves. This is but the essence. Addressing success rates and practilaties of such initiatives is a different topic of discussion, I think.
As far as motivating realists and idealists my thought is that each person who wishes to affect change at any level (be it at the highest echelons of government, or the corporate world.. or simply as a layman in your neighbourhood) needs to serve a higher purpose and dedicate himself/herself to a cause. We often read news about the state of the world and sulk in frustration about feeling helpless miles away. That is the wrong attitude to take. The path to affecting such "development" change is never rosy. Something as simple as blogging about such issues in today's world can have a highly profound effect and can "make a difference". Its always dissapointing to see people walk away from such paths simply because they either feel that the goals of development are too fluffy and unrealizable or because they believe they can't make a difference. My argument is if the whole world took up that attitude what hope is there for a future? Its for that reason only a small percentage of people who feel strongly about such issues actually dedicate themselves to it. The rest by default become concerned observers, not that there is anything wrong with it. But we must accept that there are never enough people dedicating themselves (in whatever way possible) to contributing to this utopian reality. The world desperately needs doers.
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