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Sunday, February 7, 2010

What Is An Ideology?

What is an ideology? Why is it that 'ideology' frequently, and 'ideologue' almost always, are words with negative connotations?

This post was prompted by a mini-discussion on the 'Oz Conservative' blog of whether there is a conservative (core) ideology, and what it would be, if there is.


An ideology is a simplistic valuation-in-isolation of just a few (or even just one) of the goods human beings naturally value: an ideology absolutizes those (few) things it values.

For instance, "liberals" value equality (just as we conservatives do) -- but because they refuse to place it in a proper context, which context includes justice and liberty, their view of equality is ideological; it's not equality-before-the-law, but rather egalitarianism.

For instance, libertarians value liberty (just as we conservatives do) -- but because they refuse to place it in a proper context, which context includes justice and duty, their view of liberty is ideological; it's not liberty-within-the-law, but rather libertinism.


In response to the question, “What is Conservativism?” I said:
Conservativism is the mindset and act of knowing and holding to a proper and virtuous balance between the competing goods of human nature.

My point was that there are things we humans naturally value, which we should value, but that there is a tension, and even sometimes a competition, between these goods: if we do not keep them in a proper balance, we end up with monstrous ideologies with destroy individuals or entire societies.

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