Formalism, a word often has a derogatory meaning in our society. Used to describe those who pay too much attention to superficial skills and ignore the essence. However, do we really understand the meaning of formalism? Is formalism really useless or even harmful? Before discussing this issue in depth, we need to make clear the definition of formalism and the reasons for its existence.
Formalism, literally speaking, refers to paying too much attention to a certain form or expression. This concern often goes beyond substance.
For example, in order to get good grades, a student does not pay attention to the learning process, but only to the exam results, which is a formalism. For another example, in order to achieve sales targets, a company does not pay attention to product quality and service quality, but only pursues sales volume, which is also a formalism.
So, why does formalism appear? One possible reason is social pressure and competition. In today's society, it is generally believed that success, achievement and value are all embodied in some form.
For example, good grades of students are regarded as a sign of outstanding students; The company's sales are regarded as the symbol of the company's success. Therefore, in order to pursue these so-called "signs", people often ignore the substantive content.
However, should formalism be completely denied? In fact, the existence of formalism has its positive significance. The existence of form can provide us with a standard and let us know what is good and what is bad.
For example, in the field of art, there are certain forms and rules that can help us to judge the quality of a painting or a musical work. For another example, in the company, certain processes and rules exist that can help us ensure the quality of products and services.
However, formalism also has its negative effects. If we overemphasize the form and neglect the essence, it will lead to distortion and misunderstanding of the essence. For example, if a student does whatever it takes to get good grades, he will ignore the true meaning of learning; If a company ignores the quality of products and services in pursuit of sales, it will harm the long-term interests of the company.
Therefore, we can neither totally deny nor blindly worship formalism. We should not only understand and respect the form, but also attach importance to the substance. Only in this way can we really understand things and do things well.