Abridged Summary of Practical Idealism Reimagined (PIR)
Developed by APracticalUtopia.org and Founder Adam M. Ostrow, MD
Practical Assumptions
At its foundation, PIR begins with two basic assumptions about reality:
1. The Universe We Observe Is Reality. The world around us is not a test, a trick, or an illusion—it is real, and our choices within it matter.
2. We Possess Free Will. While our choices may be constrained by circumstances, we are not mere chess pieces being moved about by forces beyond our control. Our decisions have meaning and consequences.Preconditions: Understanding Truth
Before discussing peace or ethics, we must clarify what we mean by “truth.” PIR recognizes that the word “truth” represents three distinct concepts:
Objective Truth: There is an underlying reality— “the way things actually are”—that a truly objective observer could document. I sometimes call the totality of Objective Truth, The Wei, acknowledging that even if we can’t know for certain why what is, is. We can still acknowledge and be grateful for the way things are.
Probable Objective Truth: Because we can never be entirely certain when we’ve reached Objective Truth, we must rely on what is most likely true based on evidence and reasoning. Using the scientific method, we assemble the most complete, consistent explanation available, always open to revising our understanding when new information emerges.
Personal Truth: Each person’s beliefs, experiences, and teachings form a personal filter through which they see and interpret the world. This is the proverbial “box” we try to think outside of.
The Scale of Self-Interest
PIR also acknowledges that a person’s behavior and each individual choice exist along the Spectrum of Self-Interest (for a graph, see the chapter in video by the same name)
Entitled Self-Interest: Pursuing one’s own goals even when it harms others.
Enlightened Self-Interest: Ethically pursuing one’s own goals without initiating or escalating harm.
Beneficence: Willingly sacrificing one’s own interests to help others.`
Societal peace and personal fulfillment are achievable when people act at least from a position of enlightened self-interest.The Two Core Requirements for Peace
Long-lasting peace—whether at the global level, in interpersonal relationships, or within oneself—requires just two commitments:
Value Probable Objective Truth. At the very least, adopt a shared standard for reality when interacting with others. Operating from and imposing upon others unsupported personal truth, inevitably leads to abuse and conflict.
Treat Others as You Wish to Be Treated. This is essentially the Golden Rule: recognize that others deserve the same rights and respect that you demand for yourself. At a minimum, do not initiate or escalate harm.
These commitments are at the core of ethics and the foundation of PIR. They are essential not only for peace but are integral to the success of any ethical endeavor. Recognizing these distinctions helps us navigate differences with others and refine our understanding of the world.The world is an unfair place because people choose to make it that way. Recognizing that if we cannot eventually make fairness a societal expectation, then we will never be able to break the cycle Social Darwinism creates where those willing to act with Entitled
Self-Interest pound the rest of us until the separation between the haves and the have
nots grows so intolerably obscene that the masses rise up to tear the oppressors down
and begin the cycle anew. Eventually new oppressors emerge as they create a new
underclass, and so on... So it has been throughout history, rotting great civilizations
from within long before they are overrun by their enemies. Always it is the average,
individually powerless, often brainwashed, citizen that suffers through the most strife
caused by circumstances they didn’t choose and they are also most of the people that
die as a result. Except we are reaching a level of technology where this approach is
going to end up destroying us all. One angry, irresponsible or greedy loser can more
and more easily make a selfish or foolish choice that will lead to ending us all, forever.
But don’t worry, the Earth most likely will be fine, and life will evolve again without us.I don’t think that broad interstellar colonization is an realistic option for the forseeable future so we
have only two choices: either we find our way to peace as a societal expectation for
inclusion or it is not an exaggeration to say that in all likelihood, one or more of us will
be responsible (directly or indirectly) for the extinction of the human race. We are in
infinitely more danger from many more angles than in the cold war when everyone was afraid that nukes might fly tomorrow. Mutually assured destruction can no longer be relied upon for protection. Let’s choose to try for peace.Society’s Responsibility for Peace A deeper part of the Golden Rule.
In a society seeking long-term peace, the majority of members must embrace peace
as a collective responsibility. This means:
Early Intervention: A people must be so dedicated to peace that they will turn in for treatment those they love when they intend harm (even when they have valid reasons to be angry at the people who would be harmed).
Mental Health & Humane Containment: Quality treatment must be available, and when necessary, humane containment or peer-group isolation should be provided for those unable to stop themselves from causing harm.
Without these safeguards, individuals will eventually seek to protect themselves at the
expense of peace from those who cannot let go of the past or are insane.PIR as a Pathway to Ethical Success
What is remarkable about these two simple commitments—valuing probable objective truth and practicing the Golden Rule—is that they also underpin success in any ethical goal. Whether building lasting relationships, pursuing personal ambitions, or structuring a just society, these principles provide the framework for peaceful, non-violent solutions that are fair, rational, and sustainable.
PIR is not idealistic in the naïve sense. It accepts human nature and the existence of individuals who harm others. But it offers a them a social contract equal to everyone else’s, and provides way to deal with them humanely if they cannot maintain their end. For the rest of us, it is a practical, ethical foundation for individuals and societies who want a world that is secure, just, prosperous and capable of long-term peace.
If you would like to lend your talents to bring about peace, your help would magnify my efforts. Peace is a tower that will take many bricks (many individual completions of small projects) to build. If you have your own passion project, I’m interested in demonstrating how these ideas can help you as well. Email
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