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Liberals often call themselves “pragmatists,” claiming that conservatives are “ideologues” and “dogmatists.” But doesn't everyone have principles?

Key Points:

  • Modern-day Pragmatism, as a matter of principle, rejects philosophical principles. William James argued that we should measure ideas not by right and wrong, but by whether they work.
  • Liberals often reject opposing ideas as the product of a warped ideological worldview. In doing so, they don’t acknowledge that they, too, have ideological principles.
  • There are good and bad ideas and good and bad ideologies. Asking an ideological question doesn’t make you more close-minded.
  • When you string your personal principles together, you have an ideology.

Quote This:

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. –William James

See Also: Culture, Politics, Worldview

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Do you consider economic freedom important or trivial? Explain.
  3. Is the right to life fundamental or frivolous? Where does your opinion come from, and has it ever changed?.
  4. Is private property a more valuable economic principle than wealth redistribution? Defend your answer.
  5. “Trees have no dogmas and turnips are singularly broad-minded.” Explain this quote by G.K. Chesterton.
  6. Have you ever changed your mind on a principle or belief? If so, why did you do it? If not, do you think you ever will?
  7. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This is part of the Let’s Talk Politics series.