take a practical
...pth of knowledge, academic discipline and sense of purpose the student gains will serve that student well later in life. In considering the business world it might be more tempting to agree with the speaker; after all, is not busimess fundamentally about pragmatism--that is,"getting the job done" and paying attention to the "bottem line"? Emphatically, no. Admittedly, the everyday machinations of business are very much about meeting mundane short-term goals: deadlines for production, sales quotes, profit margins and so forth. Yet underpinning these activities is the vision of the company's chief executive that might extend for beyond mere profit maximization to the ways in which the firm can makes a lasting and meaningful contribution to the community, to the broader economy, and to the society as a whole. Without a dream of vision--that is, without strong idealist leadership--a firm can easily be cast about in the sea of commerce without clear direction, threatening not only the firm's bottom line but also its very survival. Finally, when it comes to the political area, again at first blush it might appear that pragmtism is the best, if not the only way to succeed. Most politicians seem driven by their interest in being elected and reelected--that is, in surviving--rather than by any sense of mission, or even obligation to their constituency or country. Diplomatic and legal maneuverings and negotiations often appear intended to meet the practical needs of the par...