This week I have been exploring the reality that there are rarely, if ever, perfect solutions to the complex problems we face in our personal and professional lives. Of course, the same is true for the political and social problems our society faces as a whole. This led me to explore the importance of finding contentment with the idea that perfect solutions don’t often exist in the real world.  In researching further, I was introduced to the concept of the “nirvana fallacy”.

I found an informative definition for the nirvana fallacy on the blog Logically Fallacious (2017).  The blog describes the fallacy as “comparing a realistic solution with an idealized one, and dismissing or even discounting the realistic solution as a result of comparing to a “perfect world” or impossible standard.”  After thinking about this briefly, it became clear to me that one can see the nirvana fallacy at work in many institutions, agencies, individuals, and political groups.  If we are honest, we likely see it in our approach to problem solving.

Do you see the nirvana fallacy influencing groups and people in problem solving?

How do you combat the nirvana fallacy in seeking your own solution?