Difference between revisions of "Conservatism"

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[[page type::article]]
 
[[page type::article]]
 
[[thing type::similarity cluster]]
 
[[thing type::similarity cluster]]
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[[category:political philosophies]]
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[[category:political philosophy]]
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[[category:isms]]
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[[category:ism]]
 
</hide>
 
</hide>
 
==About==
 
==About==
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[[Conservatism]] is a [[similarity cluster]] which generally consists of some combination of the following attributes:
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[[Conservatism]] is a [[political identity]] whose adherents claim loyalty to a [[similarity cluster|loose collection]] of {{l/sub|belief}}s, but which ultimately amounts to [[authoritarianism]].
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* a set of [[belief]]s about society:
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** society must be preserved in its present form (it ''must'' not change)
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It should be understood that [[conservatism]], despite the name, does not [[conserve]] anything except the power of an established hierarchy; see {{l/sub|nym}}ography. It is more or less a policy of lying (to the public and to each other) in support of the agendas of the powerful.
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** society ''cannot'' be changed for the better
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*** This sometimes includes a [[reactionary]] belief that society should move ''backwards'', adhering more faithfully to traditional ways that have become neglected. To a reactionary, the ideal society would follow traditional forms to the letter.
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A well-known quote by a little-known commentator seems to best encapsulate the unspoken goal of conservatism:
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*** This is often phrased as "the human condition is eternal" or "human beings cannot be perfected" (cf Kipling)
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<blockquote>Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.</blockquote>
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* a strong [[authoritarian]] tendency; valuing social hierarchy over [[egalitarianism]]
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<div align=right>&mdash; Frank Wilmot<ref name=slate /></div>
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===Related===
 
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* The [[conservative ideal]] encompasses what is best about conservatism, and ways in which the idea of conservatism is misrepresented or misused.
 
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* Conservatives tend to be on the political [[right wing]].
 
  
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Conservatism encompasses a wide variety of possible viewpoints, with different aspects being emphasized in different countries:
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This is consistent with the observation that conservatists seem to operate from a position of "We tell you what to do; you don't tell us what to do". Conservatism operates not from a position of treating people equally and fairly, but the [[/asymmetry|exact opposite]].
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* [[US conservatism]]
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===Mindset===
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* {{rationalwiki|conservative}} has a good run-down of what "conservative" means in a number of different countries.
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Conservatism seems to arise from these basic values, which are rarely stated or acknowledged:
 +
: '''1.''' It's more important to feel secure than to have an accurate understanding of reality. "What you don't know can't hurt you." "If it ain't broke (for me), don't fix it."
 +
: '''2.''' It's basically impossible to evaluate policy on its own merit, so it's best to vote for the candidate you can relate to best.
 +
: '''3.''' Winning is more important than truth. (That's kind of a corollary of 2 and, to some degree, 1.)
  
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===Social Conservatism===
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From these basics emerge patterns such as the willingness to support someone who's obviously lying or being hypocritical -- conservative voters don't care about details like accuracy; they just care that he's ''their'' liar/hypocrite, someone they find relatable.
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Social conservatives believe that there is "wisdom embedded in [existing] social structures/norms", and that we tamper with those structures at our peril. In other words, the current social norms are the way they are because they have been proven to work over a long period of time, and there is considerable danger if they cease to work properly.
 
  
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The implication of this is that we don't know how those norms got the way they are, nor why they work. This is at odds with the idea that we as a civilization have been documenting our own history in considerable detail for many centuries now, and are indeed quite capable of noting which experiments have succeeded, which failed, and which were made popular or unpopular without correlation to (and for reasons other than) their success or failure at their intended purpose. The social conservative attitude essentially favors custom over understanding, shuns experimentation, and fears the possible consequences.
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People who position themselves as conservatist leaders may not actually believe the positions they espouse. The point of advocating a position, in the conservatist social realm, is to unify and engage people to support the leader's quest for power and victory.
  
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Social conservatives are at odds with social [[liberal]]s on certain issues:
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The existence of large quantities of people of this general mindset represents an ongoing threat to free society. Their desire for simplicity, security, and victory can be weaponized by the powerful to overwhelm more thoughtful voices in any democratic system.
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* [[marriage]] (liberals want to broaden it, conservatives [[war on marriage|don't]])
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==Pages==
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* [[death penalty]] (conservatives for, liberals against)
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* {{l/sub|pos}}itions taken by conservatism
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* [[gun control]] (conservatives against, liberals for)
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* {{l/sub|nym}}ography: the terminological landscape
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===Fiscal Conservatism===
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* {{l/sub|US}}: conservatist identity in the United States
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Fiscal conservatives are more concerned about unnecessary government expenditure, and tend to prefer solutions where private industry or "faith-based" groups provide the bulk of the funding. For this reason, they tend to seek solutions based in [[free market]] incentives. They also tend to be against government regulation, however, which they unfortunately often seem to forget is a [[free markets require regulation|requirement]] for a free marketplace.
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* {{l/sub|asymmetry}}: the rules do not apply equally
 +
===Related===
 +
* The [[conservative ideal]] encompasses what is best about conservatism, and ways in which the idea of conservatism is misrepresented or misused.
 +
* Conservatives tend to be on the political [[right wing]].
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
 
{{quotation|[[Evelyn Waugh]] {{needcite}}|[ [[Rudyard Kipling]] ] was a conservative in the sense that he believed [[civilization]] to be something laboriously achieved which was only precariously defended. He wanted to see the defences fully manned and he hated the [[liberal]]s because he thought them gullible and feeble, believing in the easy [[perfectibility of man]] and ready to abandon the work of centuries for sentimental qualms.}}
 
{{quotation|[[Evelyn Waugh]] {{needcite}}|[ [[Rudyard Kipling]] ] was a conservative in the sense that he believed [[civilization]] to be something laboriously achieved which was only precariously defended. He wanted to see the defences fully manned and he hated the [[liberal]]s because he thought them gullible and feeble, believing in the easy [[perfectibility of man]] and ready to abandon the work of centuries for sentimental qualms.}}
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* <s>{{dkosopedia}}</s>[[category:!dkosopedia]] no equivalent article (as of 2008-03-27); see [[dkosopedia:Special:Search/Conservatism|search]]
 
* <s>{{dkosopedia}}</s>[[category:!dkosopedia]] no equivalent article (as of 2008-03-27); see [[dkosopedia:Special:Search/Conservatism|search]]
 
* {{sourcewatch}}
 
* {{sourcewatch}}
−
* {{rationalwiki}} (redirects to {{l/rw|Conservative}})
+
* {{rationalwiki}} redirects to {{l/rw|Conservative}}, which contains a good run-down of what "conservative" means in a number of different countries.
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===Groups/Projects===
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===Orgs (non-US)===
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* [[Americonservatism/organizations]]
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* [[wikipedia:Christian Voice (UK)|Christian Voice]] (UK)
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** non-US:
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{{links/smw}}
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*** '''Conservative Christian''':
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==Footnote==
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**** [[wikipedia:Christian Voice (UK)|Christian Voice]] (UK)
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<references>
 +
<ref name=slate>'''2022-06-03''' [https://slate.com/business/2022/06/wilhoits-law-conservatives-frank-wilhoit.html The Pithiest Critique of Modern Conservatism Keeps Getting Credited to the Wrong Man]</ref>
 +
</references>

Latest revision as of 22:49, 19 November 2022

About

Conservatism is a political identity whose adherents claim loyalty to a loose collection of beliefs, but which ultimately amounts to authoritarianism.

It should be understood that conservatism, despite the name, does not conserve anything except the power of an established hierarchy; see nymography. It is more or less a policy of lying (to the public and to each other) in support of the agendas of the powerful.

A well-known quote by a little-known commentator seems to best encapsulate the unspoken goal of conservatism:

Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.

— Frank Wilmot[1]

This is consistent with the observation that conservatists seem to operate from a position of "We tell you what to do; you don't tell us what to do". Conservatism operates not from a position of treating people equally and fairly, but the exact opposite.

Mindset

Conservatism seems to arise from these basic values, which are rarely stated or acknowledged:

1. It's more important to feel secure than to have an accurate understanding of reality. "What you don't know can't hurt you." "If it ain't broke (for me), don't fix it."
2. It's basically impossible to evaluate policy on its own merit, so it's best to vote for the candidate you can relate to best.
3. Winning is more important than truth. (That's kind of a corollary of 2 and, to some degree, 1.)

From these basics emerge patterns such as the willingness to support someone who's obviously lying or being hypocritical -- conservative voters don't care about details like accuracy; they just care that he's their liar/hypocrite, someone they find relatable.

People who position themselves as conservatist leaders may not actually believe the positions they espouse. The point of advocating a position, in the conservatist social realm, is to unify and engage people to support the leader's quest for power and victory.

The existence of large quantities of people of this general mindset represents an ongoing threat to free society. Their desire for simplicity, security, and victory can be weaponized by the powerful to overwhelm more thoughtful voices in any democratic system.

Pages

  • positions taken by conservatism
  • nymography: the terminological landscape
  • US: conservatist identity in the United States
  • asymmetry: the rules do not apply equally

Related

  • The conservative ideal encompasses what is best about conservatism, and ways in which the idea of conservatism is misrepresented or misused.
  • Conservatives tend to be on the political right wing.

Quotes

[ Rudyard Kipling ] was a conservative in the sense that he believed civilization to be something laboriously achieved which was only precariously defended. He wanted to see the defences fully manned and he hated the liberals because he thought them gullible and feeble, believing in the easy perfectibility of man and ready to abandon the work of centuries for sentimental qualms.

— Evelyn Waugh [?]

Links

Reference

Orgs (non-US)


Footnote

  1. ↑ 2022-06-03 The Pithiest Critique of Modern Conservatism Keeps Getting Credited to the Wrong Man
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