Pragmatism and Corruption

Pragmatism means practicality, well almost all of us are familiar with this term, in my opinion there is no absolute definition of this term, the interpretation taken by people of this term is, if you are the part of the “system” or if you are making use of weak elements of the system then you are practical otherwise not. It may be possible that you are being “practical”, because you have no option left with you instead of being “practical”. Aren’t we hiding the reality that we are equally contributing and promoting corruption or cynicism in the cover of being practical??

The definition of honesty has been changed,

A person who does the job by taking the bribe is honest.

A person who does not do the job in spite of taking the bribe, is dishonest.

A person who does the job without taking the bribe is merely a fool.

On the other hand,

A person who gets his work done easily by giving the bribe is practical.

A person who gets his work done by many difficulties and by a sufficient amount of delay, but without giving the bribe, is a fool.

If we take the concept of pragmatism in our society then

A person who never trusts anyone in the society and just treats everybody either a commodity to use or a parasite of no use is “practical”. Or if you metamorphose yourself in the diplomatic or hypocrite society into the same, then you are practical.

On the other hand,

A person, who lives his life simply on some moral values, honesty, trust and love, will be odd-man-out, will be called a fool, and will be either exploited or rejected by the “practical” people of the society.

And we call it Pragmatism; we just give a statement in our favor that “you have to be practical, if you want to survive in the society”. Is it really practicality or our cowardice that we are unable to fight against the corruption and are succumbing to the corrupt system??

Some of the points or arguments which people generally give in favor of being “practical”.

• People around me are sufficiently “practical”, if I am not then I will be either exploited or rejected by the “practical” people of the society.
• It is not possible to change the system, if you want to really survive in the system then you will have to become the part of it.
• I don’t do anything wrong with anyone, and if I am replaced with the corrupt elements of the system or if I get power, then I will not do anything wrong and will try to decrease corruption, but in my position I am helpless, I have to be “practical”.
• In today’s life it is very easy to talk idealistically but very difficult to be “practical”.
• If you want to live your life happily without any kind of torment, then be “practical”.
• I don’t do anything wrong with anyone, but I don’t trust anyone. I am quite pragmatic and I use my pragmatism in my defense from the evil society.
• If you want to grow quickly or want to increase your “success” rate then be practical.
• Idealistic people always fail in current society or they get success after a big struggle.
• I have to be “practical” because I am in “need” and my needs can not be fulfilled by following my ideals.
• I want “power” on any cost, without being “practical” and “cynical” it is not possible.
• I can not tolerate people around me “growing”, I too want to grow with same rate, for that I will do whatever I can do.

Corruption is increasing because it is a low risk high profit business, which in turn in increasing cynicism. In our society or country being corrupt or cynical or “practical” is rewarded or appreciated. And it’s the universal truth that the thing which is rewarded or appreciated is repeated. So when the reward is more, risk is less and profit is high, it encourages people to become corrupt or cynical. On the other hand, for the honest people who want to fight against corruption or do not want to loose their identity, it becomes a high risk, low profit business, they stand firm on their views for some time but when they find themselves weak and helpless they succumb to the system and become the part of it. Now the question is who is making these honest people to succumb to system?? It’s us, our society who appreciate and reward corrupt and discourages honest people.

All of us like simplicity and want trust in each other, but we all are lacking this thing. We say that people around me are not good and we can not trust anyone, but if you ask other people near around you about their opinion then they will also have the same opinion about you and the system, that they can not trust any one and people around them are not good. Who is the originator of this distrust and cynicism?? And the answer is simple we are all are equally contributing in making the system corrupt. We are assuming something and doing something, we need to change our perspective. It’s our ignorance and tolerance towards cynicism and corruption which is increasing it. Unless we are not part of solution, then we ourselves are the problem.

Condition in our society and country can be compared with a “rat” race in which every “rat” to go ahead is not making his own effort but is pulling the tail of the “rat” in front of him, to pull him back and to make himself ahead, due to which none of the “rats” are achieving the goal, which is ultimately leading to the degradation of complete society and country. The main reasons behind this are Inferiority Complex and Jealousy. People don’t want to make their own efforts to win the race but are pulling others back so that they go ahead. But it is the true that the “success” achieved through short-cuts and by dishonest means is also short term, on the other hand success achieved through honest means and by following ideals is long term. But the way of honesty will require struggle, hard work, and may be confronted by opposition of people but the success achieved by this way will be enduring and the person will have a good self confidence. The only thing which discourages people from being honest is the struggle and hard work, because people think that they can achieve the same goals by easier, short and dishonest means then why to do hard work ?? This is the result of short-sightedness, people don’t see the long term consequences of their movements, they just want the “success” on any cost, without the fear that they might be loosing the trust and credibility of other people, which is very much required in long term business, and good relationships. Trust and credibility are the only two things which are responsible for a good relationship. Trust and credibility leads to Team Work, while distrust and dishonesty leads to individualism, cynicism, materialism, and contract based relationships in which two person keep on working together till the time they both are getting benefited. .

People are becoming the part of the system because of two reasons Greed, and Need. Many people who are in need, find themselves helpless in front of the system, either do not have courage to fight against the system or do not have time to indulge in the complexities of the system due to their needs, succumb to the system and indulge in bribery, dishonest means and cynicism. While on the other hand people who become the part of the system because of Greed are worse. It is their Greed, Greed for power, Greed for Money, and Greed for Position, which encourages them to follow dishonest means and to follow the low-risk, high-profit strategy by becoming the part of the system.

It is true that to change the system you have to be the part of the system, but people who be the part of the system to change the system, either become permanent part of it or succumb to system either due to the fear of corrupt elements of the system or they loose patience. It is not the responsibility of one man to change the system, we all must do something or should contribute in changing the system. We all have to be the part of the solution.

Almost all of us have right aim in the life but most of fail to press the trigger. There is a difference between knowing what is right and to do what is right. There is no utility of plan without action. There are two things Action and Inaction and you decide what is more expensive?? Remember always that honesty and hard work are directly proportional to each other, and there is no substitute of hard work on the way of honesty. Success achieved through honesty is enduring. All the good companies, good managers, and good decision makers are successful because they stick to their values and never compromise their values for anyone.