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Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian  Greatness is not defined by the End, but by the means. A man who stops a war by nuking the enemy into oblivion is not great. A man who stops a war by (through some miracle) resolving the ideological differences between the two warring peoples IS great. The war has stopped in both circumstances, but the means are different. |
I can agree with this, but you apparently do not. All of your examples describe ends, not means.
What if the man resolved those differences by brainwashing nations? That's not great. Well, it's damn great hypnosis, but it's not great diplomacy or great leadership. What if they were resolved by assassinating dissenters? Or imposing fierce economic sanctions? Or by poisoning their farms?
You're right. The means matter. So talk about the means.
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Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian In the end the single mother who successfully raises her children is Great. |
An end, not a means. Did she do it honestly, without sacrificing either herself or her children? What does "successfully raising" actually mean? Why is she single? Why doesn't she have help, like friends, siblings, neighbors?
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Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian The businessman who made his way to the top but only after treading on a lot of people, ruining a lot of careers and telling some lies, is NOT great. Despite objective appearences. |
"objective appearances"? That suggests that greatness can be associated, "objectively", with money, power, fame. Is it?
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Originally Posted by Akashic_Librarian Greatness is swimming against the pack, if you think it's the right thing to do. |
And this example does not actually suggest that greatness has anything to do with being distinct, separate, or different; it suggests, rather, that greatness is a strength of personal conviction. To believe that you, yourself, are correct.
If all but one were a good person, and that one thought it the right thing to do to swim against the pack, is she great?