Difference Between Realism and Optimism

Realism vs Optimism

Realism and Optimism are looked upon as two words that convey the same meaning. Actually they are not so. They have some difference between them when it comes to their meanings and connotations.

Realism looks at the things around as it is in reality. Optimism on the other hand, is looking at the brighter side of life. This is the basic difference between the two words. An optimist looks at the probability of something impossible to happen. On the other hand, a realist does not believe in probability. He considers things at their real value.

Realism consists in dealing with things in a practical way. Optimism does not believe in dealing with things in a practical way. The thoughts of an optimist are rooted deeply in good, even in the bad. In short, it can be said that an optimist sees the good before the bad. This is the most important difference between realism and optimism.

A realist would not allow his perceptions to take hold of the reality of the situations, but on the other hand, gives more importance to the reality of the world and its happenings. Hence, it does not mean that a realist is a pessimist. It is very important to know that a realist is not a pessimist for that matter.

On the other hand, an optimist, who is rooted in optimism, looks for the chance of things getting better in the course of time. He does not look at the darker side of things unlike a pessimist. Very rarely he gives up. He always thinks that something better can happen to change the worse situation of life. On the other hand, realism does not believe in imagination. Optimism believes in imagination though. These are the important differences between realism and optimism.