By Klaus Döring
We love to complain! Many times, we don’t even have a reason to do so—but we love to complain. Especially nowadays. Our world is full of mess, isn’t it? Of course, somehow, it is—if you look around.
We bring many more assertions to bear. First, in the past, we were thriftier and more economical, more religious and devout, more patriotic, industrious, hardworking, keen and obedient. Second, above everything else: in the past, we had more idealists. Third, nowadays, we mostly have material things in mind—what a disgrace.
Materialists or idealists? Materialism or idealism? Whom—or what—do you love? Love most?
I’m just quoting vox populi.
“Materialist” has indeed become a swear word. I don’t mean “material” as the raw data from which a writer creates a work of literary, historical, or scientific value. A materialist is often described as someone who ignores spiritual values, compared with an idealist, who seeks the highest spiritual perfection.
Idealism is the doctrine that appearance is purely perception—the idea of the subject—and that the world consists of mind. The coquetry of higher philosophy makes it difficult to bear the ups and downs of daily life.
Sure, we all know that “our last earthly dress has no pockets.” Striving for earthly possessions—property, estate, wealth—might be the assassin of idealism. That’s what we’ve been taught. “Wine, women, and song,” along with the unpleasant feelings of greed, egoism, bragging and showboating—are these truly the materialist’s attitudes?
Is the idealist—often unable to stand firmly on the ground—the only one who preoccupies themselves with religion and virtue, or, so to speak, with celestial and heavenly matters? Is that really so? Can we draw such a clear distinction? Sure, it’s easy—it’s convenient and comfortable. But then again, why is enjoying a tasty meal bad, and listening to a composition by Johann Sebastian Bach better? Why should art be better than roasted pork and a bottle of wine? Value judgments and moral concepts.
Owning a house, a car—or even more than one—are earthly possessions, as are bank savings, profitable insurance, and smart stock investments. Is a terribly underpaid nurse or a struggling book author an idealist simply because they don’t work for the lure of money but for higher values?
Was Jesus an idealist because He accepted renunciation and died without possessions? Or was He a materialist because He fed thousands on the breadline? Are we idealists if we leave nothing behind for our families and die without a single centavo, because earthly things are “bad”?
Worth thinking about.
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