Emphasizing action in contradistinction to passivity, giving precedence to practice and experience over theory and abstraction.
Activism is a concept that sprang from the early 20th century work of John Dewey and Maria Montessori on learning theory and education methods. Activism took root particularly in the USA where it is identified with a spirit of progress and accomplishment.
Activism repudiates speculation in favor of action which creates or adds to the base of experience from which critical judgments about future actions can be made.
It overcomes the paralysis of situations in which established theories do not shed light on future action.
Knowing is not enough, you must also act.
The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do. The worst thing you can do is nothing. (Theodore Roosevelt).
Activism tends to detach itself from its roots, to become unanchored or purposeless activity carried out for the sake of keeping busy or appearing productive or even avoiding the hard questions of life and the interior reflection that they provoke.
Activism defers thoughtful response until it is too late to respond thoughtfully.