To: Liberal Classic
It makes you understand why F.A. Hayek felt the need to write an article entitled "Why I Am Not A Conservative".
106 posted on
04/19/2006 7:46:51 AM PDT by
RightWingAtheist
(Creationism is to conservatism what Howard Dean is to liberalism)
To: RightWingAtheist
Personally, I find that the most objectionable feature of the conservative attitude is its propensity to reject well-substantiated new knowledge because it dislikes some of the consequences which seem to follow from it - or, to put it bluntly, its obscurantism. I will not deny that scientists as much as others are given to fads and fashions and that we have much reason to be cautious in accepting the conclusions that they draw from their latest theories. But the reasons for our reluctance must themselves be rational and must be kept separate from our regret that the new theories upset our cherished beliefs. I can have little patience with those who oppose, for instance, the theory of evolution or what are called "mechanistic" explanations of the phenomena of life because of certain moral consequences which at first seem to follow from these theories, and still less with those who regard it as irrelevant or impious to ask certain questions at all. By refusing to face the facts, the conservative only weakens his own position.
113 posted on
04/19/2006 7:55:23 AM PDT by
Liberal Classic
(No better friend, no worse enemy. Semper Fi.)
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