With that said, my type of "realist" thought provides ample views for all points on the spectrum, but with the ever present awareness that there are exceptions to every rule, solutions to every unanswerable question and a probability for any real event. Like any philosophy, it is one to be constantly modified and adapted to personal experience. That modification process could also be considered an application, since it takes place through self evaluation and a cataloging of possible solutions, along with their probabilities, usually mentally or (as is the case with myself) through writing.
As a realist, I have to operate with certain foundational principles
RESPECT THE MAJORITY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU HATE IT
Under a given set of circumstances, one of the more simple indicators of what will happen at any given moment is what happens the majority of the time. As I previously stated, there are exceptions to every rule and the majority in no way is always correct. But what is real is that majority probabilities dictate likely events. Thus an understanding of how things work most times is invaluable to the realist. That includes how people think and work as well.
EMOTIONS ARE ACTUAL AND THUS SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR EVALUATION--HOWEVER, THEY ARE ABSTRACT--THAT MEANS THEY CAN BE DISMISSED THROUGH WILLPOWER AND PRACTICE
One of the advantages to realism is the positive effect it can have on personal resiliency. For the most part, our initial reactions to problems are emotional. We get mad, sad, confused or bitter about some things. Other times we can be exceptionally happy, hopeful or motivated. Bottom line is most emotional decisions are bad ones. so when I face a problem these days, I have my moments, but then it's time to focus on the situation at hand and what can be done to fix it.
However, realists know that although reacting emotionally or dwelling in emotions is dangerous, those reactions are indicators of our person, and thus should be recognized, cataloged and interpreted later objectively.
THE REALIST APPROACH VALUES SOLUTIONS THAT ACCOUNT FOR WHAT'S REAL -__- .....THE SOLUTIONS TO MY PROBLEMS RARELY, IF EVER ARE IDEAL....BUT THEY REFLECT THE REALITIES OF MY CURRENT PERSPECTIVE AND ANY GIVEN SITUATION
Here's where I bump heads with a lot of people, but it really doesn't matter. Once I evaluate a situation and have, what I believe at least, to be a pretty accurate understanding of the probabilities, I craft solutions that account for four things mainly:
- my willingness and ability to do something in the short term
- my ethics, personal beliefs and convictions
- the likelihood of reaching my long term goal, given I follow through on the short term aspects of my solution
- when other people are involved--their most likely action/response in a given situation
After this filtration of sorts, the solutions/actualities aren't always ideal (especially that last one) nor might they support any conventional stream of thought, but it doesn't matter. My goal is to come up with solutions/conclusions that account for these factors and any others that may prove relevant. I do this in the way most appropriate to my understanding of a situation.
Another thing: probabilities are indeed assumptions and can lead to conclusions interpreted as generalizations Generalizations are the way of the world, our personal shortcuts. The difference is a realist recognizes the possibility of anomalies, exceptions and just flat out being wrong. So we always maintain an open mind. However, those assumptions can be good things
Exhibit A
People are fickle and emotional in most situations. It's upon that premise that most times, I choose to maintain personal independence....Realists travel their own path, think their own thoughts and respect everything on the outside inasmuch it gives them perspective from which to draw.
WHAT'S DONE IN THE SHORT RUN, DETERMINES THE LONG RUN---SO PROGRESS MEANS TAKING STEPS
Understand this---the way to affect the long term probabilities in your life is by making the smaller, short term decisions. In most cases (some people get lucky...or unlucky), a specific set of actions will create a desired result. The possible combinations of those actions are limitless, and some might not even be necessary given some other factor, but it is the responsibility of the realist to get their priorities (and subsequently probabilities) in order.