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- Jun 11, 2009
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- Political Leaning
- Libertarian
View of human character shaped by perceptions of chance or choice.
Forgive me if I'm stating something obvious, but isn't this ultimately the case? Perhaps it is a naive way of looking at things, but it works for me. To explain, let me put it this way...
Let's consider for a moment that there is a spectrum. On one end is chance and the other end is choice.
Chance----------------------------------------------------Choice
Now let's say this spectrum represents the degree to which one or the other shapes human nature or character.
Those people on the left side of the spectrum view chance; such as the family a person was born in, how they are raised, diseases or disabilities that may limit them, what opportunities emerge in their life, and many other things the person has no direct control over, as the major factor that shapes a person's character or nature.
Those people on the right side of the spectrum view choice; such as the free will a person has and their ability to exercise it through their own personal responsibility and self reliance; as the major factor that shapes a person's character or nature.
In essence, those on the left generally believe that chance plays a greater role than choice in how a person's character develops. They are thus more likely to emphasize fairness and doing no harm as their fundamental values. They will expect those who have done well in life to help those who have not done so well and thus to redistribute some of their good fortune and reduce the inequality in the world. The more the left emphasizes chance, the less they acknowledge choice.
In essence, those on the right generally believe that choice plays a greater role than chance in how a person's character develops. They are thus more likely to emphasize group loyalty, purity, and sacredness as their fundamental values. They will expect those who have not done so well in their life to take responsibility for their condition and to pick themselves up by their bootstraps and seek to earn their place in the world. The more the right emphasizes choice, the less they acknowledge chance.
If taken to the extreme, then each side has an ideological theology. It is theology because it is not based on reason or evidence, but merely on faith.
The extreme left side has a liberation theology in which they view the world in terms of victims and oppressors. The victims band together in order to overcome their oppressors and redistribute the resources by coercion or force. This has given birth to systems such as socialism and communism.
The extreme right side has a preservation theology. They view the world in terms of self preservation. These people will seek to preserve themselves and their group from those they perceive as impure or irresponsible by whatever means necessary. This has given birth to systems such as aristocracy, fascism, and theocracy.
In summary, I think the degree to which people view chance or choice shapes a person's character, determines where they will fall on the political spectrum. Those who think that chance has a greater influence on character will lean toward the left and those who think choice has a greater influence on character will lean to the right.
Forgive me if I'm stating something obvious, but isn't this ultimately the case? Perhaps it is a naive way of looking at things, but it works for me. To explain, let me put it this way...
Let's consider for a moment that there is a spectrum. On one end is chance and the other end is choice.
Chance----------------------------------------------------Choice
Now let's say this spectrum represents the degree to which one or the other shapes human nature or character.
Those people on the left side of the spectrum view chance; such as the family a person was born in, how they are raised, diseases or disabilities that may limit them, what opportunities emerge in their life, and many other things the person has no direct control over, as the major factor that shapes a person's character or nature.
Those people on the right side of the spectrum view choice; such as the free will a person has and their ability to exercise it through their own personal responsibility and self reliance; as the major factor that shapes a person's character or nature.
In essence, those on the left generally believe that chance plays a greater role than choice in how a person's character develops. They are thus more likely to emphasize fairness and doing no harm as their fundamental values. They will expect those who have done well in life to help those who have not done so well and thus to redistribute some of their good fortune and reduce the inequality in the world. The more the left emphasizes chance, the less they acknowledge choice.
In essence, those on the right generally believe that choice plays a greater role than chance in how a person's character develops. They are thus more likely to emphasize group loyalty, purity, and sacredness as their fundamental values. They will expect those who have not done so well in their life to take responsibility for their condition and to pick themselves up by their bootstraps and seek to earn their place in the world. The more the right emphasizes choice, the less they acknowledge chance.
If taken to the extreme, then each side has an ideological theology. It is theology because it is not based on reason or evidence, but merely on faith.
The extreme left side has a liberation theology in which they view the world in terms of victims and oppressors. The victims band together in order to overcome their oppressors and redistribute the resources by coercion or force. This has given birth to systems such as socialism and communism.
The extreme right side has a preservation theology. They view the world in terms of self preservation. These people will seek to preserve themselves and their group from those they perceive as impure or irresponsible by whatever means necessary. This has given birth to systems such as aristocracy, fascism, and theocracy.
In summary, I think the degree to which people view chance or choice shapes a person's character, determines where they will fall on the political spectrum. Those who think that chance has a greater influence on character will lean toward the left and those who think choice has a greater influence on character will lean to the right.
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