So You want to be a Teacher Program

History/Phil/Psych Workshop Monday October 10, 2005

Political Ideologies – sets of beliefs that are not testable - - contrast with theories/hypotheses

What are the fundamental beliefs of conservatives? Of radicals? Of liberals?

Might help for reading Spring text.

From The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk (1953)– traces history of conservative thought and conservative thinkers in Britain and the US.

Introduction presents Canons of Conservatism and of Radicalism

Canons of Conservatism – (more or less in Kirk’s words)

1. A divine intent rules society – political problems are really religious and moral problems

Reflects a pessimistic view of human reason, cannot understand God’s universe. Original sin? Christianity tie.

Is there a non-religious conservatism? Perhaps, but Christianity is part of the tradition of Western European culture.

2. Values tradition – views tradition as offering variety over the “narrowing uniformity and equalitarian aims of most radical systems.”

3. Holds the conviction that civilized society requires orders and classes. “Society longs for leadership.” Leadership requires distinctions among men.

4. Property and freedom are inseparably connected. Economic leveling is not economic progress. Take away private property and freedom disappears.

5. Distrust of social tinkering. Man is governed more by emotion than by reason – tinkering bound to lead to anarchy.

6. Allows for slow change, society must alter over time, but does not tolerate reform or purposeful innovation. “Providence is the proper instrument for change”.

Must see these as internally consistent. All flow from the first one, a pessimistic view of human nature.

Canons of Radicalism

1. Belief in the perfectibility of man and the illimitable progress of society. “Radicals believe that education, positive legislation and alteration of environment can produce men like gods.” They deny that humans have a built-in tendency toward violence and sin.

2. Contempt for tradition. Human reason is sufficient to guide social action. Formal religion is rejected. Is religious radicalism possible? Radical catholic priests?

3. Belief in political leveling – order and privilege are condemned. Total democracy is the ideal. Tendency toward centralization and consolidation.

4. Economic leveling – distrust of private property.

5. (My addition) Belief in change, radical change for the benefit of all humanity.

Again, must see this as an internally consistent set of beliefs. All flow from the perfectibility idea.

Can you prove or disprove these assumptions about human nature – are humans sinful and unclean? Or are humans noble and god-like in themselves?

How about Liberals? Continuum….

Liberals somewhat optimistic about human nature. Like tinkering, but prefer incremental change – reversibility, in case we make mistakes.