Science Forums 2

[questor]

Moon, I am posting links from articles explaining a number of individuals opinions of the difference in thinking of conservatives and liberals. If you disagree, why not post articles proving otherwise?

The differences between Conservatives and Liberals
The interesting part of this article is not the topic (a dispute on drug policy in British Columbia), but the insights into the different moral systems of conservatives and liberals (in the Canadian or American sense). Proffessor Jonathan Haidt, a University of Virginia social psychologist, has developed a system to explain the different moral systems of conservatives and liberals.

In his view there are five foundations people use to define morality:

Harm: whether someone is harmed or harm is reduced.
Reciprocity: whether something is fair and treats people fairly and justly.
In-group: whether something betrays the group.
Hierarchy: whether something is respectful of authority and superiors.
Purity: whether or not something is disgusting.
Haidt says that Liberals only use the first two - and don't respond to arguments based on the other three, while conservatives use all five, and therefore will find arguments based solely on the first two unconvincing. There could be a real lesson for political communications here.

In my opinion, a liberal society culminates in a socialistic society , which seems to destroy a persons ability to succeed according to his ambitions and aspirations. Do we want to live in a socialistic society, or in one that gives free rein to a person's abilities? I have never talked to a business owner who would choose socialism.