Reinhold Niebuhr: Sein Leben und Werk

Zusammenfassung

The terms Idealism and Realism are not analogous in political and in metaphysical theory … In political and moral theory, realism denotes the disposition to take all factors in a social and political situation, which offer resistance to established norms, into account, particularly the factors of self-interest and power. In the words of a notorious realist, Machiavelli, the purpose of the realist is to follow the truth of the matter rather than the imagination of it… This definition of realism implies that idealists are subject to illusions about social realities, which indeed they are. Idealism is, in the esteem of its proponents, characterized by loyality to moral norms and ideals, rather than to self interest, whether individual or … collective Augustine was … the first great realist in western History.