Saturday, December 17, 2022

Liberalism v Leftism... A quick reminder.

Liberalism is a political philosophy that emerged during the Age of Reason in 17th-century England. At its core, it is centered on the notion of liberty. The philosophy emphasizes the necessary exchange of ideas, free speech and openness to debate, free markets, private ownership of property, and the rule of law. Liberalism values a political system (republican, parliamentary, or some other facsimile) built on a foundation of scientific rationalism, empiricism, and healthy skepticism. Individual rights sit at the cornerstone of liberalism.

Leftism is a useful group name for the philosophies that emerge from the extremes of progressivism. On an extended level, it is a grouping of thought structures that are motivated by a litany of attacks on empiricism and established norms in favor of an eventual utopia.

In Leftism, there is a need for a nouveau elite who will carry through the necessary collectivist programs of social engineering. Leftists believe that the environment is the critical variable that can be manipulated to establish their specific utopia. The individual, by necessity, will always be secondary to the collective.

No comments: