On Ideals

In 1999, at the end of the last millennium, Merrelyn Emery writes in her book "Searching" about our "Potential for ideal seeking":

"... people are not limited to being purposeful. As purposeful systems they can be confronted by choice between purposes and they may choose outcomes which are not necessarily possible in the time available, or perhaps, ever. These outcomes are the 'ideals'. They are endlessly approachable but unattainable in themselves (Emery, F. 1977b: 69).

This set of ideals was derived from the open systems framework (Emery, F.1977). The first is Homonomy — from Angyal (1965), the being with others in a sense of belongingness and interdependence. It relates part to part within the whole for the benefit of the whole and all its parts. It is the opposite of selfishness.

The second is Nurturance, cultivating and using those means which contribute to the health and beauty of the whole and all its parts. It is the opposite to exploitation.

The third is Humanity, expressing what is appropriate, fitting and effective for us as people; regarding people as superordinate to institutions and putting their wellbeing and development (spiritual as well as physical) above bureaucratic and/ or material criteria of progress. It is the opposite to inhumanity.

The fourth is Beauty, that which is aesthetically ordered and intrinsically attractive; moving within the social and physical environments so that they become increasingly desirable, more dynamically balanced. It is the antithesis of ugliness."

Can you see yourself pursuing any of these in today's fast paced life? At home? At work?

If not, what's stopping us pursing them in this millennium?