I have tried to adduce some of the guidelines that are, I think, at the foundation of conservatism. It is rather like deciding that a criminal court will convict only when there is no "reasonable doubt". It is not a precise line, but most cases, once reviewed, clearly fall on one or the other side. (Prosecutors rarely bring cases when they can see a reasonable doubt, so the cases at trial are generally more disputable). In civil cases we adopt the standard of "preponderance of the evidence", and, although not a bright line, it is understandable and affords guidance. Similarly, conservatives are against, in most cases, strong interference with the market; the federalization of issues; and judicial activism, for reasons I earlier discussed. There are exceptions, but the guidelines are sound.
In general, liberals are biased towards "personal fulfillment", and conservatives are biased towards "duty"; liberals are biased towards "discovering oneself", and conservatives are biased towards "developing character". Liberals tend to admire those who are spontaneous and somewhat showy, for being free and self- expressive; conservatives tend to admire those who are disciplined and unassuming in demeanor. In other words, there is an outlook or orientation that tends to inform judgment pretty strongly, on both sides. |
