Aristotelian Social Conservativism

While tradition sometimes contains elements of superstition and is held to for non-rational reasons, the phenomenon as a whole exists for sociobiological reasons. In particular each species has evolved an Aristotelian "logos" or natural way of life that is best suited to it. Thus while tradition, and perhaps even the irrational way in which it is sometimes adhered to, is not rational in itself, the phenomenon as a whole exists for rational reasons.

Modern social theorists, primarily of the critical theorist left, deny this however. Instead of grounding their theories on a firm scientific basis such as sociobiology they choose to argue that human nature is infinitely malleable and can be reconfigured to "liberate" itself from any rational "oppressive" social structures.

Despite this, human sociobiology remains unchanged. Thus attempts to change social patterns beyond a given range leads to evolutionary failure. For example, James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal quantifies this in what is known as the "Roe Effect," where Democrats abort their children more frequently than Republicans, thereby leading to fewer Democratic voters 18 years later. In one article he demonstrates how this phenomenon lead to President Bushes victory in 2004:

http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110004780

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Aristotle
• James Taranto
• Social Conservativism
• Queer Theory
• Feminist Theory
• Critical Theory
• Cultural Marxism
• Leo Strauss
• Sociobiology
• Neoconservativism
• Salutory Effect
• Roe Effect
• Noble Lie
• Patriarchy
• Heterocentrism
• Evolutionary Psychology
• Demographic Implosion

[JHBowden79]

The exploitation nonsense seems to begin with Kant and his notion of autonomy. Supposedly men are at essence rational beings-- reason is the source of our freedom. Since most social conventions are not chosen by a deliberative process, they are arbitrary and impose on our freedom of self-determination.

While Kant had a conservative temperament, one can see how this dovetails with the Marxist idea that markets are unjust, traditions are unjust, etc because we didn't have a say in their creation.