Conservatives don’t do logic
There are two problems with supporting your views with logic, reasoned arguments, scientific studies, open debates, etc: one problem is that they take too long and are too much trouble. The other problem is that the study, the debate, the reasoned consideration is quite likely to come up with points that you don’t like.
Against conservatism
Your positive attitude is admirable, I like! Sorry for the long reply: "their beliefs are more nuanced and diverse" - can you give me examples please? My experience of conservative people its that 90% have not thought about any of these issues deeply, and certainly not with reason and logic. ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’ is totally incompatible with reason and logic.
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with 'sincerity' yes, that i have seen. but there is a problem with that which makes it not worth much - we can sincerely believe utter crap. in the early 20thC many sincerely believed that woman should not be given the vote. the ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’ meant that they sincerely thought that.
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“our duty to judge by the merits decisions, and not just accept them because he is on our side' - for sure, 100%. but that is exactly what conservatives DONT do. ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’ means UNQUESTIONED acceptance of those on our side.
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“not to be dismissive of people simply for being part of the opposition.” - sure, indeed. again, this is not something that conservatism makes easy. ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’ means unexamined REJECTION of other ideas.
So, in all the things you hold to be important, conservatives fall flat - their ideas are directly contradictory to what you note here. Including the last, very admirable point of yours: “decency and humility in how we deal with each other.” ... decency is based on ‘Conformity to prevailing standards ‘ - the standards of conservative society are based on ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’, especially to religious authority. that is - the religion that debases women, homosexuals and those of other faiths. the authority that says ‘keep in your place, your betters will decide things’ and looks down on those with less money. the tradition that keeps going a whole range of useless, damaging and sometimes barbaric practices, just because ‘its traditional!’.
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The decent standards you prefer, I presume, are derived from humanism, liberalism, democracy, science, socialism, respect for all regardless of race sex and economic status, a genuine chance to take a fully active part in your own life and community and workplace. These are all in opposition to conservatism and all things that conservatives are actively fighting to reduce.... So, my friend, exactly WHAT element of conservatism do you think is worthy of our respect? It’s a very damaging thing - and we should fight it. we should help those we respect and like to come to understand how it is holding us all back. Oh yes!
conservatism
Despite all our complicated debate, the basic aspects can be said easily: conservatives are characterised by an unquestioning acceptance of tradition, authority and, in the case of religious conservatives, revelation. NONE of these are good enough ways of deciding the value of a course of action, view, new policy etc.... They are also characterised by having been fooled into an acceptance of inequality and vast differences of wealth and power. They defend these views by calling on mostly poorly thought out cliches, and, again, on an unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority. Thats conservatism. Its a bad habit we should grow out of!
We can distil it even further: ‘The problem with conservatism is that is promotes unquestioning acceptance.’ As intelligent, freedom and fun loving individuals we can not accept that kind of thing.
There are two problems with supporting your views with logic, reasoned arguments, scientific studies, open debates, etc: one problem is that they take too long and are too much trouble. The other problem is that the study, the debate, the reasoned consideration is quite likely to come up with points that you don’t like.
Against conservatism
Your positive attitude is admirable, I like! Sorry for the long reply: "their beliefs are more nuanced and diverse" - can you give me examples please? My experience of conservative people its that 90% have not thought about any of these issues deeply, and certainly not with reason and logic. ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’ is totally incompatible with reason and logic.
.
.
with 'sincerity' yes, that i have seen. but there is a problem with that which makes it not worth much - we can sincerely believe utter crap. in the early 20thC many sincerely believed that woman should not be given the vote. the ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’ meant that they sincerely thought that.
.
.
“our duty to judge by the merits decisions, and not just accept them because he is on our side' - for sure, 100%. but that is exactly what conservatives DONT do. ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’ means UNQUESTIONED acceptance of those on our side.
.
.
“not to be dismissive of people simply for being part of the opposition.” - sure, indeed. again, this is not something that conservatism makes easy. ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’ means unexamined REJECTION of other ideas.
So, in all the things you hold to be important, conservatives fall flat - their ideas are directly contradictory to what you note here. Including the last, very admirable point of yours: “decency and humility in how we deal with each other.” ... decency is based on ‘Conformity to prevailing standards ‘ - the standards of conservative society are based on ‘unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority’, especially to religious authority. that is - the religion that debases women, homosexuals and those of other faiths. the authority that says ‘keep in your place, your betters will decide things’ and looks down on those with less money. the tradition that keeps going a whole range of useless, damaging and sometimes barbaric practices, just because ‘its traditional!’.
.
.
The decent standards you prefer, I presume, are derived from humanism, liberalism, democracy, science, socialism, respect for all regardless of race sex and economic status, a genuine chance to take a fully active part in your own life and community and workplace. These are all in opposition to conservatism and all things that conservatives are actively fighting to reduce.... So, my friend, exactly WHAT element of conservatism do you think is worthy of our respect? It’s a very damaging thing - and we should fight it. we should help those we respect and like to come to understand how it is holding us all back. Oh yes!
conservatism
Despite all our complicated debate, the basic aspects can be said easily: conservatives are characterised by an unquestioning acceptance of tradition, authority and, in the case of religious conservatives, revelation. NONE of these are good enough ways of deciding the value of a course of action, view, new policy etc.... They are also characterised by having been fooled into an acceptance of inequality and vast differences of wealth and power. They defend these views by calling on mostly poorly thought out cliches, and, again, on an unquestioning acceptance of tradition and authority. Thats conservatism. Its a bad habit we should grow out of!
We can distil it even further: ‘The problem with conservatism is that is promotes unquestioning acceptance.’ As intelligent, freedom and fun loving individuals we can not accept that kind of thing.