From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Mon Sep 16 2002 - 15:55:10 MDT
Giu1i0 Pri5c0 writes
> >the almost platonic reality of the left-right
> >political spectrum. As soon as you know someone's views on
> >a relatively small number of issues, you can correctly infer
> >their views on almost all issues.
> This is true for people with a stereotyped left or right view
> of the world but not for everyone.
Yes, you're right. I failed to include the "middle of the
roaders" and other moderates. My statement only applies
to most systematic thinkers, because I've noted that relatively
few occupy the center (of those who dwell on the issues a lot).
> I believe that these days, if one thinks with one's head,
> (s)he is bound to have "right" opinions on some issues and
> "left" opinions on some other issues.
But the problem is that you are implying that people who
don't embrace *some* left positions and *some* right
positions are not thinking clearly. I'm sure that you
are wrong. I have encountered extremely thorough and
careful thinkers all along the political spectrum.
TT writes
> Personally I have a hard time bringing my assumptions
> to the surface, as they often crumble the moment I begin
> to analyse them.
Yes, though I don't know about "crumbling". I just know
that if I sit down with my opposite number who is as
interested as I am in getting past the usual arguments
and delving into underlying or unconscious assumptions,
it's damned hard work.
> It is often quite a shock to have ones unacknowledged
> assumptions exposed, let alone challenged.
That's very interesting. I've never heard this before
(though it sounds very reasonable). Now it can be quite
*threatening* to have one's most basic assumptions
challenged---maybe that's what you're talking about.
For example, I felt suddenly insecure and a tad angry
when someone once questioned whether human happiness
was really worth anything, and whether or not it
mattered if kittens were tortured.
> I think that's where a lot of the emotional discord
> arises when discussing political topics.
The reason that I disagree is that the deeper differences
in values are seldom addressed. Yes, the emotional
discord *does* occur when obviously intelligent people
seem unable to see "the obvious", or have revealed them-
selves to be "evil" or "mean-spirited".
Thanks for your conjecture.
Lee
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