The Roots Of Conservativism?

Did it all begin in a cave somewhere?

I've been told more than once that my conservatism makes me a neanderthal. I've always considered it a compliment.

Comments

[RiverRat]

Dan,

I'm beginning to think it's time to play Newspeak. If Marxists could usurp the term "liberal", which they're not, and turn "conservative" into a pejorative, maybe it's time for a (sorta) new label. From here forward I'm a Minarchist. At least it's a term that encompasses the concept of Burkian, Jeffersonian, and Friedmanian classical liberalism without the taint of fascism assigned to it by the left.

It also seems to me that the social conservatives would have little difficulty accepting the term "sceptical and/or pragmatic deist" for those of us who reject the "revealed word" of theists. For me, it's easy to accept as empirically proven that Judeo-Christian social philosophy works.

[RiverRat]

Sorry, Burkean not Burkian.

[Phoenix]

Good comment, RiverRat. Just keep 'neo' out of any Newspeak lexicon. People are sticking that to everything in contrast to 'paleo'..... I kind of like 'Classicist'. Broad enough to indicate that one has an open mind that is based on the best of the past and the richly thoughtful reasoning quality of the future.

Your last sentence in unique. What a perfect way to say it.... Why... you must be a Classicist. :)

[Phoenix]

"..my conservatism makes me a neanderthal. I've always considered it a compliment."

ooh... hold me back.....

That's why you're 'carnivorous'? Yay! :} ...........as I trudge dutifully behind you dragging my leather strappings.....

[RiverRat]

Nah! My last sentence was the vision of an empiricist. :-)

[Sue]

You may be more right than you know. Scientists are investigating an allele that may account for a bigger/higher brain/power in some humans. The fascinating fact? It is from the Neanderthal. Heh!

[Rhod]

Phoenix and RiverRat, just cut it out. Newspeak, Burke, "neo" (read "Jewish") classical liberalism and progressivism, Christian utilitarianism, the numinous, this stuff ain't Neanderthal, it's Cro-Magnon. I think. Get your periods right, you damnned smart guys.

[Phoenix]

Rhod,

Okay. But I'm a girl. An Austropelithecus-femininecoopus. Don't you see me up there trudging behind Dan? In my leather fetters and two chin hairs?

[Rhod]

An Austropelithecus-Sheilabirdicus. Please.