Overview of Practical Idealism Reimagined (PIR)
Developed by Adam M. Ostrow, MD, Founder of A Practical Utopia
Why PIR
While I hope people will notice its utility as a philosophy of life, PIR is designed to be a social agreement under which peace is possible. Interestingly, PIR ends up being a philosophy of ethical problem solving. So, it's both the way I'm solving the problem of "Is there a practical way people can live together in peace despite human limitations?" and the answer to that problem.Practical Assumptions
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. But Objective Truth can never be known with absolute certainty of complete understanding.
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 and Success in Any Ethical Endeavor
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 the foundation of PIR and at the core of ethics. 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.Social 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 feel hatred for those 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, people will eventually seek to protect themselves in ways that undermine peace, particularly when faced with those who cannot let go of past harms or who struggle with serious mental illness.Peace in an Unfair World
The world is unfair largely because people make it so. If fairness does not become a shared societal expectation, we remain caught in the recurring cycle that Social Darwinism creates. Those willing to act with Entitled Self-Interest exploit others until inequality becomes unbearable, unrest follows, and new forms of oppression emerge. History shows this pattern repeatedly, weakening societies from within long before external threats prevail. It is almost always the average, individually powerless citizen who bears the greatest burden of suffering and loss.Today, the stakes are far higher. As technology advances, the actions of a single irresponsible or malicious individual can have irreversible consequences. Humanity faces a simple choice. Either peace becomes a societal expectation, or it becomes increasingly likely that one or more of us will cause catastrophic harm to or extinction of at least our own species. A fair way to work together is no longer an abstract ideal, but a practical necessity.
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 peace-focused 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 are willing to harm others. But it offers a them a social contract equal to everyone else’s, and provides way to deal with them justly/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.In the full interview and detailed summary other important issues are discussed that explore the apparent conflict between science and faith, how people are manipulated, and how this philosophy helps one avoid manipulation.
If you would like to lend your talents to bring about peace, your help would magnify my efforts. Peace is a path 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. Please consider reading the more thorough transcript summary or watching/listening to the video and then email us if you would like to participate in refinement of this philosophy or contribute as a leader/worker to starting a non-profit company from the ground, up.
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