This is maybe represented psychologically or internally as the 'would/should' dilemma. The difference between what we actually do and what we ought to do or strive for.
The idealistic position is classically demonstrated by Plato in his search for truth and virtue. In terms of education it might be summed up as the peruance of knowledge for its own sake.
The realist position is captured by Nicollo Machiavelli in 'The Prince', wherein he provides counsel to those who wish to seek or maintain a powerbase. Machiavelli holds that the ideal 'rebublics' are a fiction and energies should be spent understanding how power operates in the 'real world'. Hence, he advocates a 'real-politik'. Furthermore, Machiavelli believes that those who persue power from a virtuous position will fail and fall as virtue holds the seeds to self-destruction.
Thus, Machiavelli prescribes that one should employ utilitarian tactics rather than virtuous.
In terms of education, one might interpret valuable knowledge as that which has some utilitarian purpose for the holder rather than some emphemeral 'virtuous' quality....
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