The three pillars of life

Indian philosophy as well as religion talks of three gunas Satva, Rajas and Tamas
Since I am hardly a scholar of Indian philosophy, this is my interpretation , this is not to be considered to be accurate, indeed it can be very much off the mark.

First comes Satva, Translated it can mean idea or trait positive in nature.
So what is positive? Here is my take Positive here means any ideal which affirms the life, what is more, the effect of positive force is the progress and elevation of life. This applies both for an individual as well as society. In short, Satva is anything which brings us closer to the truth.
This is the reason Hinduism placed emphasis on Bhakti and Jnan, this is also the reason that it is a folly to segregate Science and Religion. People whose ideals follow this, flourish.

Tamas is the opposite of Satva, it is negation of life, a rejection of all the values which nurture life, the animal instinct which cowers from holy fire, the fount of eternal light, the vehicle of civilization . The effects of negative force are civilizational decadence, spiritual bankruptcy followed by physical and material ruin, and destruction of civilization. That is why dogma is Tamas, that is why ignorance is Tamas. Any idea, any philosophy which dissuades from exploration of truth, either by making false claims of perfection or worse by claiming non existence of truth and therefore irrelevance of any such exploration.
Civilizations whose nature has become Taamsik either wither away or implode.

While Satva and Tamas reflect the opposing ideas, by themselves they have limited effect.

To be forceful, to hold sway, they need help of Rajas .
Rajas is the force, it is neutral, it is the enabler of the ideas.
In history where Rajas has been harnessed by Satva, it has meant a blossoming of vitality, it has meant the progress and elevation of civilization, to the stage where it's achievements has enthralled and humbled those who were to follow in it's wake.
Ancient Greece was one such civilization, so was Ancient India, so was Europe for brief period during and after enlightment.

However when it has allied itself to the Tamas, it wreaks destruction. It is the harbinger of ruin and death. Civilizations are plundered and the lofty ideals are pulled down from their pedestals.
,very foundations of enlightened civilization are disfigured.

It is important to recognize the importance of Rajas. The power of weapons wielded by Kshatriya is Raajsik, when it is used to defend dharama it affirm the positive force. When it is used for oppression, it affirms the negative.