Espreso. Global
OPINION

We are overly addicted to idealism and perfectionism

11 February, 2023 Saturday
00:40

We should be more sober in our assessment of the Ukrainian world and the processes taking place in it, so as not to die every time from its imperfections

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Herbert Simon, an American Nobel Prize winner in economics, worked on the concept of 'satisfaction' – the study of choice and decision-making in economic processes and human life in general. He coined the term 'bounded rationality', when people and businesses seek satisfactory rather than optimal outcomes in their efforts to satisfy their needs.

In other words, everything in our lives is more often on the scale of 'good enough' than 'best'. And if we think about this statement and soberly evaluate our actions, we will agree with it.

“In our lives, everything happens more often on the scale of 'good enough' than 'best'. And if we think about this statement and soberly evaluate our actions, we will agree with it.”

Thus, the ideal is more of a philosophical category and moral intention than a specific point of reference or description of a situation.

On this basis, it is worthwhile to take a more sober approach to assessing the Ukrainian world and the processes taking place in it, so as not to die every time from its imperfections. And not to scale its imperfect features to assess the entire process.

For example, our healthcare is not perfect, but it is generally 'good enough' to keep us from dying of disease and to keep us healthy. And if we want to improve our health, we shouldn't look for quick results in medicine, but in our lifestyle, eating behavior, and unhealthy habits.

Yes, our education, schools, and universities are not perfect, but they are generally 'good enough' to make us feel on par with the world, to be more or less well-read, and to have a decent level of basic science. And if we want to improve our educational level, we should look for quick results not in better desks and more friendly and attentive teachers, but in self-education and devote more time to reading and analysis. Fortunately, the situation for self-education is the best it has ever been since the existence of humanity as a species.

Yes, we have corruption, imperfect roads, and many other flaws in society and the state. But they are good enough for us to be a normal democratic society with a low crime rate, many bright people and projects, developed social empathy, and a functioning army that effectively repels the enemy. It's not perfect, but it's good enough. Even better than anyone expected.

“We shouldn't fall into a state of 'all is lost' after every corruption scandal, unsuccessful visit to the hospital or contact with teachers. When our kidneys hurt, we don't say that's it, we're done, we have to die.”

We houldn't fall into a state of 'all is lost' after every corruption scandal, unsuccessful visit to the hospital or contact with teachers. When our kidneys hurt, we don't say that's it, we're done, we have to die. We evaluate the system as a whole, the state of our body, and realize that it is generally okay, but the kidneys need to be treated.

We are excessively addicted to idealism and perfectionism, expecting it mostly from others, and forgiving ourselves for all our shortcomings. But this is a self-deception and not a very practical position of assessing the world around us. It is a kind of civic infantilism.

It's better to focus on yourself and become an internal auditor of your own actions and work. Did I do a good enough job? Am I improving the overall health of my country?

If you take the logs out of your own eyes, you can extract a lot of useful energy and build something good.

 

Source

About the author: Volodymyr Hevko, marketer, blogger. 

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.

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