The quest for perfection leads to intolerance of imperfection from "summary" of Dictatorship of Virtue by Richard Bernstein
The idea that the relentless pursuit of perfection can breed a climate of intolerance towards any form of imperfection is a central theme in Dictatorship of Virtue. Bernstein argues that when individuals or societies become fixated on achieving an idealized standard of virtue, they often become less accepting of diversity, complexity, and the messy realities of human existence. In the quest for perfection, there is a tendency to view any deviation from the ideal as a threat that must be eradicated. This black-and-white thinking leaves little room for nuance or ambiguity, leading to a rigid and uncompromising stance towards those who do not conform to the established norms of virtue. Moreover, the pursuit of...
Similar Posts
Ethics are not universal, but contextdependent
Ethics are not fixed and unchanging principles that can be universally applied to all situations. Instead, ethical decisions ar...
The relationship between opportunity, timing, and effort in achieving success
In Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell explores the idea that success is not solely determined by individual talent or hard work, but by...
Virtue signaling is a tool of manipulation and control
In our current cultural climate, virtue signaling has become a prevalent tool for individuals and groups to assert their moral ...
Conformity weakens societal bonds
The weakening of societal bonds is a consequence of the prevalence of conformity in a society. When individuals conform to soci...