Spring Break
Exploring differences in morality and politics
Erik Anderson
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: Opinion
Let me ask you a question. Hypothetically, there are two dogs up for adoption: One is independent-minded and relates to its owner as an equal, the other is extremely loyal and doesn't warm up well to strangers.
Which of the two would you prefer to adopt?
Now what if I told you that based on your choice, I could predict who you voted for in the last election?
That is the assertion of Jonathon Haidt, a researcher at the University of Virginia. Based on a survey of more than 30,000 people, Haidt has concluded that liberals and conservatives differ in a fundamental way - they do not share the same morality.
To liberals, morality is based on two principles: fairness and not harming others. Conservatives agree with those two principles, but also hold in-group loyalty, respect for authority and purity or sanctity as moral virtues.
Everybody is concerned with issues of fairness and harm to others. However, liberals tend to reject the conservative virtues because those are often the justification for oppressing others or restricting their rights (think gay marriage).
When a conservative uses arguments based on those virtues to persuade a liberal, the two will never understand one another.
Here's an example Haidt uses to illustrate this.
Imagine a woman standing on the corner of College and Mulberry holding a sign that says "Cable television will destroy society."
You ask her to explain, and she says that cable television is an affront to the god Thoth and that cables radiate theta waves that make people sterile. You think, obviously here's a candidate for Thorazine.
Now imagine a man holding a sign that says "Gay marriage will destroy society." He explains that homosexuality is an affront to God and that gay marriage will undermine the institution of marriage, which our society is built upon.
He can't be schizophrenic because many people agree with him; but to a liberal, he's just as crazy as the first lady.
Which of the two would you prefer to adopt?
Now what if I told you that based on your choice, I could predict who you voted for in the last election?
That is the assertion of Jonathon Haidt, a researcher at the University of Virginia. Based on a survey of more than 30,000 people, Haidt has concluded that liberals and conservatives differ in a fundamental way - they do not share the same morality.
To liberals, morality is based on two principles: fairness and not harming others. Conservatives agree with those two principles, but also hold in-group loyalty, respect for authority and purity or sanctity as moral virtues.
Everybody is concerned with issues of fairness and harm to others. However, liberals tend to reject the conservative virtues because those are often the justification for oppressing others or restricting their rights (think gay marriage).
When a conservative uses arguments based on those virtues to persuade a liberal, the two will never understand one another.
Here's an example Haidt uses to illustrate this.
Imagine a woman standing on the corner of College and Mulberry holding a sign that says "Cable television will destroy society."
You ask her to explain, and she says that cable television is an affront to the god Thoth and that cables radiate theta waves that make people sterile. You think, obviously here's a candidate for Thorazine.
Now imagine a man holding a sign that says "Gay marriage will destroy society." He explains that homosexuality is an affront to God and that gay marriage will undermine the institution of marriage, which our society is built upon.
He can't be schizophrenic because many people agree with him; but to a liberal, he's just as crazy as the first lady.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Registered Independent
posted 4/28/09 @ 12:05 PM MST
What an idiotic theory Haidt has come up with.
The hallmark example of "in-group loyalty" (which Haidt has wrongly attributed to conservatives) would be liberals dogmatic insistence upon politically correct speech. (Continued…)
Vacuous Coed
posted 4/30/09 @ 10:34 AM MST
Reg Indy,
You must be very mean-spirited to ridicule Janine Garofalo that way. Who cares if she is the spoiled-brat child of an Exxon executive. Or that she spent her high school years in Texas, where she learned to use the word "redneck". (Continued…)
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