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Being liked v Being right: Satyagraha and other ways of being and relating
Satyagraha
Satyagraha, a concept developed by Mahatma Gandhi, fundamentally differs from face-saving, political correctness, being nice to get your way, and radical candor with positive intent, although these concepts share certain elements of non-confrontation and consideration of others’ feelings or perspectives. Integral to this comparison is the notion of integrity, ethics, and morals, which underpin each concept to varying degrees.
Satyagraha is rooted in the principles of truth (Satya), nonviolence (Ahimsa), and self-suffering (Tapasya). It is a method of resistance based on moral and ethical grounds, aimed at achieving justice and social change. Practitioners of Satyagraha, known as Satyagrahis, believe in appealing to the conscience of the oppressor through love and respect, while emphasizing transparency, honesty, and self-sacrifice. The methods of Satyagraha include non-cooperation, civil disobedience, and constructive programs, all of which are carried out without violence and with a strong commitment to truth and ethical conduct. At its core, Satyagraha embodies a profound commitment to integrity, ethics, and moral principles, seeking to transform society through pure and just means.
Face-saving
In contrast, face-saving revolves around preserving one’s own or others’ dignity and reputation, often to maintain social harmony and prevent conflicts. This concept, deeply embedded in cultural and social norms, involves diplomacy and tact, sometimes at the expense of full transparency. Face-saving may involve avoiding blunt statements or concealing the truth to protect the social fabric and uphold interpersonal relationships. While it aims to maintain harmony and respect, it can sometimes compromise on complete honesty, reflecting a pragmatic rather than an idealistic adherence to integrity and ethics.
Political correctness
Political correctness focuses on using language and behavior that avoids offending or marginalizing groups of people, driven by a commitment to social justice and equality. The objective is to foster an inclusive and respectful society, reducing discrimination and prejudice. While political correctness promotes sensitivity to social and cultural issues, it sometimes faces criticism for potentially stifling free expression. The methods used in political correctness involve careful choice of words and adherence to social norms that prioritize respect and equality. This approach underscores ethical considerations related to respect and fairness, although it can sometimes lead to a perceived lack of authenticity or transparency.
Being nice to get your way
On the other hand, being nice to get your way involves using charm, friendliness, and politeness as strategic tools to influence others and achieve personal or strategic goals. This approach can be pragmatic, leveraging positive social interactions to sway decisions without direct confrontation or aggression. While it fosters goodwill and positive relationships, it can also be perceived as insincere or manipulative if the underlying intent is purely self-serving. Here, the ethical and moral dimensions can be compromised when niceness is used as a facade for manipulation, lacking the integrity seen in more principled approaches.
Radical candor with positive intent
Radical candor with positive intent adds another dimension. It involves direct, honest communication while showing that you genuinely care about the person you are addressing. This approach values transparency and feedback, delivered in a manner that demonstrates respect and consideration for the recipient’s feelings. Radical candor aims to build trust and foster growth by being forthright yet compassionate, balancing truth with empathy. This concept aligns closely with integrity, as it advocates for honesty and transparency, underpinned by ethical and moral considerations of care and respect for others.
Comparatively, Satyagraha prioritizes absolute truth and transparency, even at the cost of personal suffering. In contrast, face-saving may withhold the full truth to avoid conflict, political correctness uses careful language to avoid offense, being nice to get your way may involve strategic truth-telling or withholding for personal benefit, and radical candor with positive intent combines elements of truth-telling and empathy, aiming to deliver honest feedback while maintaining positive relationships. The motivation behind Satyagraha is a higher moral goal of justice and ethical living, whereas face-saving is driven by the need to maintain social harmony and reputation, political correctness by social justice and inclusivity, being nice to get your way by personal or strategic gain, and radical candor with positive intent by a desire to improve relationships and foster growth through honest communication.
Satyagraha’s methods are characterized by nonviolent resistance, civil disobedience, and self-suffering, grounded in a deeply ethical and spiritual philosophy. In contrast, face-saving employs diplomacy and tact, political correctness uses sensitive language and behavior, being nice to get your way relies on charm and friendliness, sometimes verging on manipulation, and radical candor with positive intent relies on direct yet empathetic communication.
In essence, while Satyagraha is a principled, ethical stance committed to truth and nonviolence for the purpose of social justice, face-saving, political correctness, being nice to get your way, and radical candor with positive intent are strategies for maintaining social harmony, avoiding offense, achieving personal goals, or improving relationships through various forms of communication and interaction. Each approach reflects different balances and interpretations of integrity, ethics, and morals in the pursuit of their respective objectives.
