WHY I AM NOT A CONSERVATIVE
1 Conservatism Offers No Alternative Goal
Conservatism is about resisting major changes and supporting the idea of freedom. However, it does not provide a clear plan or direction for society's future. Instead of preventing unwanted changes, conservatism only slows them down, which means conservatives often end up following paths set by others. On the other hand, liberals focus on where society should go instead of just how fast changes should happen. There is some confusion around the term "liberal" because it means different things in the United States and Europe, making it harder to see the distinctions between liberalism, conservatism, and socialism. This misunderstanding affects how people view these political positions and their goals.
2 the Triangular Relation of the Parties
The traditional view of the political positions of socialists, conservatives, and liberals is misleading. Instead of a linear arrangement, they should be represented in a triangle, with conservatives at one corner, socialists at another, and liberals at the third. Conservatives often follow socialist ideas to stay relevant, shifting their views as extreme movements emerge. Meanwhile, liberalism is focused on progress and change, not just preventing socialism. Liberals want to remove obstacles to growth and improve institutions rather than preserve the status quo, valuing established institutions when they align with liberal ideals.
3 the Basic Difference Between Conservatism and Liberalism
The main difference between conservatism and liberalism is their views on change and authority. Conservatives generally fear change and prefer to rely on established institutions, believing that strong authority is needed to guide society. They are often cautious about new developments and think of order as something that comes from constant oversight by authority. This can lead them to support coercion to enforce their values, as they believe that if decent people are in power, they should not have too many restrictions.
Liberals, on the other hand, are more open to change and trust that market forces will help society adjust to new situations, even if the outcomes are uncertain. They believe in allowing different moral values to exist together peacefully and argue that using force to make others follow specific beliefs is wrong. Liberals support a political system where everyone can follow their beliefs freely and where different values can coexist.
While conservatives want to keep certain hierarchies intact and believe that some people should have more power than others, liberals reject this idea. They agree that some people may be more talented, but they argue that no one should have the right to decide who is better or use government power to protect those people from change. Liberals view democracy as a way to manage power, but not as the end goal. They believe the important issue is how much power the government should have.
Additionally, conservatives might fight against too much government control, but they do this for specific reasons rather than a general belief in limiting government power. They may resist some government policies while also supporting restrictions that conflict with free enterprise. This shows that while conservatives and liberals sometimes agree on certain economic issues, their overall beliefs remain very different.
4 the Weakness of Conservatism
Conservatism has several weaknesses, especially in how it deals with new ideas and knowledge. Conservatives often fear change because they don't have strong beliefs to counter new thoughts. While liberals see new ideas as important for progress, conservatives are more likely to reject new theories, especially if they clash with their existing beliefs. This rejection can lead to obscurantism, where they ignore well-supported scientific findings because they don't like the moral implications. This makes their arguments weaker because facing facts is essential for understanding and adapting beliefs.
Additionally, conservatism is linked to a strong sense of nationalism, which makes conservatives distrustful of international ideas. This attitude limits their ability to engage with new concepts, as important ideas do not respect national borders. Dismissing ideas because of where they come from prevents constructive discussions. Nationalism can lead to collective thinking, which prioritizes the nation's interests over individual freedoms. Interestingly, the conservative dislike of internationalism can connect with imperialism, where those who feel superior believe they need to "civilize" other countries. This often results in conservatives working alongside socialists. Overall, these traits show how conservatism struggles in a world full of changing ideas.
5 Rationalism, Antirationalism, and Irrationalism
The liberal viewpoint is positioned between socialism and conservatism. Liberals reject the extreme rationalism of socialists, who want to redesign society based solely on their own reason, as well as the mysticism often embraced by conservatives. They acknowledge the limits of human knowledge and are open to learning from non-rational traditions that have shown value. Unlike conservatives, liberals accept their ignorance without relying on supernatural answers. While liberals can hold personal religious beliefs, they respect others' choices and maintain a separation between spiritual and worldly matters.
6 the Name of the Party of Liberty
The speaker identifies as a liberal but expresses concerns about the term's current meaning and associations. They feel that today's liberalism differs significantly from its historical roots and does not represent their beliefs. Many modern liberals focus on applying a rational plan to society rather than allowing for free growth. The speaker argues that the label "liberal" has become confusing and less effective in promoting their ideas, particularly in the United States. They suggest that "libertarian" has been used as an alternative, but they find it unattractive and inadequate. Ultimately, they seek a better term that reflects a party supporting natural development and freedom.
7 a New Appeal to the Old Whigs
The Old Whigs were important in developing the ideas of liberalism, which influenced the liberal movement in Europe and the American struggle for independence. Over time, the name "Whig" lost its clear meaning because the party moved away from its original principles, and negative views arose after the French Revolution. However, the main idea of Whiggism, which is about having a higher law that is more important than government rules, still matters today. These principles are key to how government works in Anglo-Saxon countries and are a big part of the American political system, especially as shown by James Madison. While the name "Whig" might not mean much to most people today, it accurately reflects a tradition that stands for freedom and limits on government power.
8 Principles and Practical Possibilities
The name used to describe political beliefs may not always be significant, especially in places like the United States where there is a degree of freedom. However, in Europe, many conservatives have accepted collectivist ideas, making it crucial to distinguish between supporting existing beliefs and advocating for genuine freedom. This difference often leads to conflict with conservatives who uphold established policies. While cautious policymaking can be wise, it shouldn't mean accepting things just because they are popular. Those who are open to change, even if misguided, should be encouraged to rethink current practices. Ultimately, political philosophy should focus on timeless principles rather than fluctuating political trends, as conservatism lacks a guiding philosophy for long-term progress.
1 Conservatism Offers No Alternative Goal
Conservatism is about resisting major changes and supporting the idea of freedom. However, it does not provide a clear plan or direction for society's future. Instead of preventing unwanted changes, conservatism only slows them down, which means conservatives often end up following paths set by others. On the other hand, liberals focus on where society should go instead of just how fast changes should happen. There is some confusion around the term "liberal" because it means different things in the United States and Europe, making it harder to see the distinctions between liberalism, conservatism, and socialism. This misunderstanding affects how people view these political positions and their goals.
2 the Triangular Relation of the Parties
The traditional view of the political positions of socialists, conservatives, and liberals is misleading. Instead of a linear arrangement, they should be represented in a triangle, with conservatives at one corner, socialists at another, and liberals at the third. Conservatives often follow socialist ideas to stay relevant, shifting their views as extreme movements emerge. Meanwhile, liberalism is focused on progress and change, not just preventing socialism. Liberals want to remove obstacles to growth and improve institutions rather than preserve the status quo, valuing established institutions when they align with liberal ideals.
3 the Basic Difference Between Conservatism and Liberalism
The main difference between conservatism and liberalism is their views on change and authority. Conservatives generally fear change and prefer to rely on established institutions, believing that strong authority is needed to guide society. They are often cautious about new developments and think of order as something that comes from constant oversight by authority. This can lead them to support coercion to enforce their values, as they believe that if decent people are in power, they should not have too many restrictions.
Liberals, on the other hand, are more open to change and trust that market forces will help society adjust to new situations, even if the outcomes are uncertain. They believe in allowing different moral values to exist together peacefully and argue that using force to make others follow specific beliefs is wrong. Liberals support a political system where everyone can follow their beliefs freely and where different values can coexist.
While conservatives want to keep certain hierarchies intact and believe that some people should have more power than others, liberals reject this idea. They agree that some people may be more talented, but they argue that no one should have the right to decide who is better or use government power to protect those people from change. Liberals view democracy as a way to manage power, but not as the end goal. They believe the important issue is how much power the government should have.
Additionally, conservatives might fight against too much government control, but they do this for specific reasons rather than a general belief in limiting government power. They may resist some government policies while also supporting restrictions that conflict with free enterprise. This shows that while conservatives and liberals sometimes agree on certain economic issues, their overall beliefs remain very different.
4 the Weakness of Conservatism
Conservatism has several weaknesses, especially in how it deals with new ideas and knowledge. Conservatives often fear change because they don't have strong beliefs to counter new thoughts. While liberals see new ideas as important for progress, conservatives are more likely to reject new theories, especially if they clash with their existing beliefs. This rejection can lead to obscurantism, where they ignore well-supported scientific findings because they don't like the moral implications. This makes their arguments weaker because facing facts is essential for understanding and adapting beliefs.
Additionally, conservatism is linked to a strong sense of nationalism, which makes conservatives distrustful of international ideas. This attitude limits their ability to engage with new concepts, as important ideas do not respect national borders. Dismissing ideas because of where they come from prevents constructive discussions. Nationalism can lead to collective thinking, which prioritizes the nation's interests over individual freedoms. Interestingly, the conservative dislike of internationalism can connect with imperialism, where those who feel superior believe they need to "civilize" other countries. This often results in conservatives working alongside socialists. Overall, these traits show how conservatism struggles in a world full of changing ideas.
5 Rationalism, Antirationalism, and Irrationalism
The liberal viewpoint is positioned between socialism and conservatism. Liberals reject the extreme rationalism of socialists, who want to redesign society based solely on their own reason, as well as the mysticism often embraced by conservatives. They acknowledge the limits of human knowledge and are open to learning from non-rational traditions that have shown value. Unlike conservatives, liberals accept their ignorance without relying on supernatural answers. While liberals can hold personal religious beliefs, they respect others' choices and maintain a separation between spiritual and worldly matters.
6 the Name of the Party of Liberty
The speaker identifies as a liberal but expresses concerns about the term's current meaning and associations. They feel that today's liberalism differs significantly from its historical roots and does not represent their beliefs. Many modern liberals focus on applying a rational plan to society rather than allowing for free growth. The speaker argues that the label "liberal" has become confusing and less effective in promoting their ideas, particularly in the United States. They suggest that "libertarian" has been used as an alternative, but they find it unattractive and inadequate. Ultimately, they seek a better term that reflects a party supporting natural development and freedom.
7 a New Appeal to the Old Whigs
The Old Whigs were important in developing the ideas of liberalism, which influenced the liberal movement in Europe and the American struggle for independence. Over time, the name "Whig" lost its clear meaning because the party moved away from its original principles, and negative views arose after the French Revolution. However, the main idea of Whiggism, which is about having a higher law that is more important than government rules, still matters today. These principles are key to how government works in Anglo-Saxon countries and are a big part of the American political system, especially as shown by James Madison. While the name "Whig" might not mean much to most people today, it accurately reflects a tradition that stands for freedom and limits on government power.
8 Principles and Practical Possibilities
The name used to describe political beliefs may not always be significant, especially in places like the United States where there is a degree of freedom. However, in Europe, many conservatives have accepted collectivist ideas, making it crucial to distinguish between supporting existing beliefs and advocating for genuine freedom. This difference often leads to conflict with conservatives who uphold established policies. While cautious policymaking can be wise, it shouldn't mean accepting things just because they are popular. Those who are open to change, even if misguided, should be encouraged to rethink current practices. Ultimately, political philosophy should focus on timeless principles rather than fluctuating political trends, as conservatism lacks a guiding philosophy for long-term progress.