Realist, Idealist, Individualist, Collectivist?
Posted by Dan on November 6, 2009 in Constitution, Faith, Liberalism, Philosophy, Political Science
I believe that a central part of the rift between liberals and conservatives is not just brand identification but in fact a critical difference in the way subscribers perceive the world. American conservatives tend to be realists and individualists in large part because of the Christian influence upon the founding of American values, while liberals in general tend to be idealists and collectivists and incline towards theories which are non-Christian in nature. What exactly do these terms mean, and how do they affect the development of public policies?
Realism
Realists hold the perception that human nature is centrally motivated by aggressive tendencies to seek dominion over another. As such, humans and states will seek security based on power. Being a born again Christian believer, my perception of the world is shaped by passages of Scripture such as Genesis 6:5 which states, “The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” (NIV). The Bible portrays the heart condition of man as inherently evil, and God’s approach to reforming man is seen by law and judgment during the Old Testament era and “crucifixion” to sin (that is, putting to death the carnal nature) in the New Testament era. Realists like myself are therefore predisposed to develop policies based on restricting the opportunity for humans to exercise their aggressive nature. This may manifest in the form of a domestic policy which supports the use of the death penalty for certain offenses or a foreign policy of procuring excessively powerful military weapons and large standing armies even in the absence of any visible threat, so as to serve as a deterrent against other states.
Individualism
The second critical component of the American conservative is individualism. While there are many definitions for what an individualist is, my definition of an individualist is someone who believes in self-control, self-discipline, and self-accountability. Is this mutually exclusive with the realist belief that all men are inherently evil? If men are inherently evil, how then can they govern themselves? The individualist recognizes his nature is evil and just as the realist seeks to prevent others from having the space to do wrong, likewise prevents himself from doing wrong by exercising a tight reign over his faculties and conduct. Again, Christian faith plays an essential element in the formation of this belief system. St. Paul writes, “I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NIV). The Bible continues to say, “if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment” (1 Corinthians 11:31 NIV) and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:22-24 NIV).
Individualists do not believe in things such as globalism, carbon taxes, mandatory government health insurance or other similar programs because of the fact that there is no buy-in to being forced to be accountable for someone else. This is not to say that individualists do not believe in protecting the economy, helping the poor, or improving the collective value of their communities; rather, they believe that it should be done out of free choice and personal initiative instead of government mandate. As St. Paul writes, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).
Idealism
Unlike realists who perceive the human nature as being inherently corrupt and naturally predisposed to lean towards evil, idealists believe that humans, if placed in the correct environment, will do the right thing. Idealist philosophy generally places the blame for societal problems on external factors such as poor public education, lack of access or denial of a forum for grievances, insufficient resources, et cetera. While the realist may contend that “We must have the Second Amendment right to bear arms so that I can shoot the thief when he breaks into my house” the idealist counters “we must abolish the Second Amendment and disarm everyone because the presence of guns in the neighborhood makes everyone feel insecure and fuels the desire to engage in aggressive behavior.” The idealistic worldview manifests in domestic policies such as strict environmental regulation, mandatory public school curricula, rehabilitation and anti-recidivism programs for criminals and drug addicts, or in dealing with other states, a policy of emphasizing “carrot” over “stick” through repetitive engagement, overwhelmingly generous foreign aid and/or humanitarian missions, and military disarmament so as not to be perceived as a threat. The idealist of the 1960s would have professed that America “must” land on the Moon by the end of the decade so as to inspire the nations of the world to cooperate for the high goal of scientific achievement and human excellence, whereas the realist would say that Americans “must” land on the Moon so as to prove the superiority of American missile technology and payload delivery, so as to intimidate the Soviets and Warsaw Pact from becoming aggressive. For the idealist, the Obama campaign’s use of words such as “Hope” “Change” and “Yes We Can” is extremely appealing because it plays upon the idealist’s belief that in the end, humans want to do good – we just have to give them the space and opportunity to do so. For the realist, the McCain campaign employs “Duty” “Honor” and “Service Before Self” – key words that appeal to a realist’s pursuit of self-discipline, self-rule, and the exclusion of evil.
Collectivism
I believe that collectivism is a natural compliment to idealism. Collectivists believe that the individual is best served when the society’s good is served (i.e., greatest good for the greatest number). Collectivists will support hiking taxes to pay for the instances where government revenues fall rather than reducing spending because it is believed that government knows best how to serve the individual. Collectivists will believe in larger government, even international and global governance, because standardization and unification in their beliefs is the best approach to accomplishing what is good for man. Why should America utilize the United Nations Security Council as a forum for its grievances? Because, a collectivist would argue, only through the decision of the combined nations can the best policy be achieved.
What Is Truth?
Ultimately, the question you must ask yourself in deciding whether you will lean liberal or conservative is the same question that Governor Pontius Pilate asked: “What is truth?” For me, my truth is that we must look out for ourselves in this dangerous and dark world, that hope is good, but action is better. King David, when faced with chastisement for sin prayed, “Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men” (1 Chronicles 21:13 NIV). I don’t believe in the tenets of idealism or collectivism because man and society, if given impunity over me, will abuse me for his own benefit over mine. That is why I am a realist and an individualist, and that is why I am a conservative.
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