Great Ideals

“Politics and the fate of mankind, are shaped by men without ideals and without greatness. Men who have greatness within them don’t go in for politics.” ― Albert Camus, Notebooks: 1935–1942, p. 78.

Camus continues this paragraph excerpt by suggesting we create new men within ourselves. “We must make our men of action into men of ideals, and our poets into captains of industry. We must learn to live out our dreams — and to transform them into action. Previously men gave up or lost their way. We must neither lose our way nor give up.” (p.79)

I was thinking about this in the context of politics today, and the current political climate and politicians. It seems like we only have idealist politicians and that our giants of industry stay in industry. When I think about the billionaires trying to commercialize space, or eradicate disease, I think these are people with ideals, but they influence politics through money and commerce opposed to becoming politicians themselves. I’m not sure which is better. I’m also not sure how this quote rings true today in other ways. The increased polarization and digital echo chambers no longer allow for big ideals and great change, but rather fighting over lesser issues that revolve around things like petty moralizing and grand but hollow gestures for votes.

When was the last time a politician had truly great ideas? The previous President promised “Hope” and I think there was short-term progress made on some fronts, but nothing truly revolutionary or life-changing for most people. The current president has “great” in the platform, but it feels mostly like a return to a misinterpreted nostalgic past. Even some of the politicians that want big changes are more trying to enact policies and reforms to make us more like other peers without taking on anything truly new or bold. What would that even look like? Could something that big even happen now?

Perhaps the lack of ideas comes from exhaustion of content. In my own political science studies I found it overwhelming to evaluate all the original content that shaped modern politics. Now, in a connected digital world it seems that all the old and new ideas have been played out in a multitude of online critical gauntlets. In case you aren’t sure what I mean, go post an idea to a sub-reddit or Twitter and see what happens. Even science fiction offers little. Is there a finite amount of political theories and ideas? Who do we consider having “greatness” no win politics or industry?

-DA