Beyond Politics: The Essence of Liberalism and Conservatism

Today’s post presents general theories of liberalism and conservatism that incorporate modern social science research. I will start with an example of liberal and conservative attitudes in the field of life beyond that. Politics.

Liberalism and conservatism are not limited to politics. Liberal and conservative impulses and sensibilities exist in science and religion, music and art, the way we raise our children, and in any organization or institution.

Beyond Politics: Language

Liberalism and conservatism exist in language as well. Languages ​​with few native speakers (and thus at risk of extinction) become “conservative” and “xenophobia.” Words or expressions from foreign languages ​​are perceived as existential threats. This is a threat to language survival.

In contrast, the languages ​​spoken by many people (e.g. English) generally utilize languages ​​from foreign sources. In English, it is almost difficult to admit a foreign language to a lexicon, as English is not an endangered language. English speakers may be rendezvous, tsunami, or Feelings Schadenfreude’s. These have become English words. Our existential security makes us more open. We can afford to be more liberal. This example can be extended to other aspects of culture and provides precisely in parallel with politics.

Save our identity

This broader perspective on liberal and conservative opinions suggests that liberalism and conservatism represent the fundamental tensions in our emotional lives that exist in all of us..

On the most common level, liberalism and conservatism reflect the inherent tensions to humanity between empathy (compassion) and self-preservation (safety) instincts, and the emotions, concerns, values ​​and social priorities energised by these different human instincts.. This hypothesis maintains both roles Genetics And for personal experiences, and for both feelings and rationality in our political beliefs.

How different are liberals and conservatives? Openness,change and assimilation feel right for us, and to what extent change is felt as an existential threat. We often face this type of conflict and dilemma in many aspects of our lives, especially as members of institutions and social groups. Although certain concerns and issues differ in all cases, the themes are the same and exist in many variations. How much change can we maintain the characteristics of our institutions and culture? How open we are to new ideas and practices and can we still keep us Identity?

The essence of liberalism

Liberalism is characterized by openness in all areas of life. In social and political life, liberalism is animated by a certain kind of openness. Empathy, our openness to the feelings of others, especially our perception of suffering and injustice. When we are liberals, we forgive others in our circle of concern. The larger and more inclusive our circle of concern, the more liberal we become.

The essence of conservatism

In contrast, conservatism is energised by perceived threats to what is valuable in politics, science, art, religion and in all institutions. We become conservative when we believe that something essential to our way of life, our values, our culture, our identity, or anything else that is crucial to our way of life is threatened. We are conservative as long as we find meaning and security in traditions and existing institutions and believe that these traditions and institutions are at risk of extinction.

There is an inherent tension between these two cognitive-emotional systems. We have evolved both emotional and cognitive biases empathy Recognition of concern and danger. The threat we perceive may be imagined, it may be real, it may be true, but it may be exaggerated. Threats erode empathy and increase the capacity for cruelty. Empathy eases the harshness of our judgment and actions. In threatening situations, we draw bigger boundary Between ourselves and others. Building walls emotionally or physically.

This is Emerson’s “primitive hostilities.” “Incites the advantage of hostile (sic) pockets of all people every hour… (a) the depth of the human constitution…