The OLD Philosopher – John M. Miller
My Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (copyright 1973[!]) has definitions of the word “idea” that total forty-four lines of very small print. That surely constitutes one of the longest definitions of any word in this entire wordy book.
One of its many definitions of the word idea is that it is “a transcendent entity that is a real pattern of which existing things are imperfect representations.” I take that to mean that ideas are, by definition, the mental constructs out of which physical or spiritual entities are created. However, the mental idea is always superior to the physical entity, because nothing physical can ever be perfect.
That notion logically leads to the next word in the dictionary, which is “ideal.” Ideal is defined as “a standard of perfection, beauty, or excellence; an ultimate object or aim of endeavor.” It requires a bit of thought to absorb that definition, but it can be accomplished if we cogitate on it sufficiently for a few moments.
Ideal leads next to idealism, which is “a theory that ultimate reality lies in a realm transcending phenomena.” That is more than an ordinary linguistic mouthful. I deduce that it suggests that for idealism to be truly idealistic, its existence can be realized only beyond the level of physical entities. Stated differently, ideas and ideals and idealism can exist only in our minds, and not in actual, concrete, physical terms. When an idea or ideal is transferred to reality, it ceases to be an idea, and becomes a necessarily imperfect object of physicality.
The above rather weighty observations having been observed, let us now turn to the essence of this essay. Ideas, ideals and idealism are important. Without the idea of a light bulb, Edison could never have invented the light bulb. Without the ideal of the United States of America, there would be no USA. Without idealism, the Salk vaccine would not have been developed, nor shall the COVID-19 vaccine eventually be discovered.
Without ideas, ideals, and idealism, human history would never have progressed. As Robert Browning insisted, “A man’s reach must exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” Nevertheless, we humans can invest too much in our ideas, ideals, and idealisms. Thus they can transmogrify into immoveable and unbending ideologies.
Therein we encounter another of those “i-d-e---“ words. Ideology, says my dictionary, means “1 : a visionary theorizing 2a : a systematic body of concepts esp. about human life or culture b : a manner or the content characteristic of an individual, group, or culture c : the integrated assertions, theories, and aims that constitute a sociopolitical program.”
The best of ideas and ideals can become ideologies that are thought to be both permanent and therefore impermeable. Political notions often become ideologies, as do economic systems or religions or social programs that valiantly attempt to improve the world. For instance, addressing climate change has become the most important conceivable endeavor for millions of Earth’s citizens, and for excellent reasons.
Every idea or ideal that is good and wholesome and edifying for everyone is worth pursuing --- every noble one of them. Human endeavors of the highest sort require the highest efforts. That has always been true, and it will always continue to be true. However, nothing that exists exclusively in this world is of ultimate importance. Biblically, ideals that become idols are a form of idolatry.
Paul Tillich was a German-American theologian and philosopher. He emigrated from Germany to the USA prior to World War II and became an American citizen. Tillich was an influential thinker among many Mainline Protestant clergy and laity in the third quarter of the 20th century. Sadly, his influence has greatly diminished since then.
Tillich wrote a very deep, very short book called The Dynamics of Faith. In it he declared in various ways and by various carefully-chosen words that God alone is the ultimate or highest being in and beyond the universe. He further postulated that faith is the state of being ultimately concerned. Tillich said that when we perceive God to be the highest expression of our ultimate concern, we then are in the state or the status in which God intended us to be.
An ultimate concern is not ultimate unless its primary focus is on God. An idealism that is not constantly theocentric cannot be ultimately ideal, at least from the standpoint of biblically-oriented religious faith.
Too often religions, including Christianity, focus too much on themselves and too little on God. Political, economic, educational or social systems can make themselves their own ultimate concern. Thus God is not their ultimate concern. The best of ideas or ideals or intentions for this world can turn into idols. An idol, by definition, is a false god.
Jesus spoke more about what he broadly described as “the kingdom of God” than about any other single subject. Whatever else Jesus was, he was the supreme proclaimer of the reign or realm of God.
During the 2020 Pandemic Lockdown I have spent more time reading each day than ever before in my entire life. I have been greatly moved by many of the things that many people did with their lives, and what they or others wrote about them.
One of these writers seemed very committed to certain highly admirable cultural patterns. He said we should consider them a potential way of life for all of us. But the more he promoted these ideas and ideals, the more I began to wonder if his motivation to perceive these cultural patterns was an end in itself, or a means to an end.
Is medical research in the midst of a terrible pandemic our ultimate concern? Is it an ultimate concern to feed the hungry, of whom there now are hundreds of millions more than there were ten or twenty years ago? Is breaking the pattern of political polarization the ultimate concern of our nation? Is an elevation of the status of the poor our ultimate concern? All of these issues have relevance to the kingdom of God, but when we devote ourselves to these matters, do we see that as participation in the kingdom of God, which is how Jesus would perceive it, or do we see these things as ends in themselves?
I would never attempt to preach the contents of this essay as a sermon, because it requires too much careful thought and re-thinking and rumination for the mere momentary hearing of it to register. But I share these ideas with you, some of whom choose to read my OLD Philosopher essays, in the hopes that you will ponder what relationship, if any, these thoughts have for your life.
I am certain of this: Every highly worthy idea, ideal, idealism, or ideology should be pursued by as many as are moved to pursue them. Nevertheless, only God matters ultimately, and only He is worthy of our highest worship. Hallelu-Jah; Praise God.
- May 25, 2020
John Miller is Pastor of The Chapel Without Walls on Hilton Head Island, SC. More of his writings may be viewed at www.chapelwithoutwalls.org.