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Until the upheaval of modern democracies, people thought that only fascist or aggressive societies were intensely emotional and needed to focus on nurturing emotions. But every political principle needs emotional support to ensure its stability. A free society needs to encourage compassion for loss and anger at injustice and to foster comprehensive empathy. Ceding a base of emotional influence to anti-liberal forces could give them a huge advantage in people's minds, ultimately making liberal values lukewarm and timid.
Social values are not necessarily political virtues. Compassion is a personal virtue, but it is a social and political argument. We are good at feeling pain for the suffering of others, at least when it is strongly demonstrated, but we also tend to be narrow-minded – preferring those who are close by and similar to us over those who are far away and different.
Conversely, compassion can lead to tyrannical idealism. Compassion demands action without delay, under the guise of morality or a higher divine law. Compassion has no patience for democratic debate and cannot tolerate dissent, as does today's Christian nationalism and extremist movements of all kinds, left and right. A world that experienced Robespierre's Reign of Terror can never forget how easily well-intentioned moral zeal can go wrong into murder.
in About the RevolutionHannah Arendt argued that the American Revolutionary War succeeded not in curing suffering, but in building institutions that protected political and civil liberties. Social problems such as poverty were the responsibility of charity and the private sector. Alexis de Tocqueville, a keen observer of American democracy beloved by conservatives and liberals alike, wrote: “Every measure which permanently establishes charity as a legal institution and gives it an administrative form thereby creates an unproductive and idle class which lives at the expense of the industrious and dedicated class.”
With the outbreak of the Civil War, social problems became an increasingly important government responsibility. Big government began with Abraham Lincoln. The defeat of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery led to a larger state simultaneously dedicated to individual liberty and centralized charity, or what critics call “police.”
The balance between government intervention and individual liberty, a perennial debate in American history, continues to divide liberals and conservatives. Conservatives advocate for minimal government involvement and embrace the principle that “the best government governs the least,” thereby maximizing both social welfare and economic freedom. Or at least, that was the case once. But now freedom from government regulation of abortion, contraception, and LGBTQ issues has been sacrificed to the influence of religious conservatives in league with right-wing populists and libertarian conservatives. The right is no longer in a position as it was under Reagan; it has exaggerated the threat posed by the left to justify open rebellion against liberalism and to settle long-standing grievances and resentments with the iron fist of the state.
On the other hand, liberals believe that John Deweyeffective “Freedom”: The positive role of government is to create the conditions for human flourishing through education, health, and social welfare programs, and to protect its citizens from predatory business practices.
The liberal-conservative-religious divide is polarizing in a way that defies history. The conflict is inevitable, given that each prejudice, individually and collectively, is inherent in our political DNA. As Robert Bellah put it in his classic book: Habits of the MindThe three strands of our history are civic republicanism, expressive individualism, and the biblical tradition. The principles of the American Revolution and the Founding Civic republicanismIt emphasizes civic duty, the public interest, balanced government, and the importance of tradition and patriotism. Expressive individualism is reflected in Transcendentalist MovementIt celebrates individual freedom, self-reliance, and the pursuit of personal truth, and emphasizes personal autonomy, individual rights, and progressive change. Biblical TraditionAs exemplified by the two Great Awakenings from the mid-18th century to the early 19th century, there was a focus on personal salvation, moral reform, and a religious experience centered on piety, social justice, and community involvement.
It's as if we Americans were born for trouble. It's a miracle we get along so well! We are also a mix of ethnic, cultural, political and religious backgrounds. And now we have Hindus, Jews, BaptistA woman who is Black and South Asian and continues to laugh in the face of insults and trouble. “This kind of laughter is of no use to us and should always be refrained from.” The devil said The Devil's Letter“Moreover, the phenomenon itself is a direct affront to the reality, dignity and solemnity of hell..” (Letter 11)
Given our rich interracial heritage, it seems only fitting to close with the provocative voice of African-American poet, playwright, and activist Amiri Baraka (formerly Leroi Jones). Scorned and praised, rebuked and respected, Baraka is known for his outspoken words. Here is his advice when in trouble: “You exercise your mental muscles, but you also use your heart muscles.”
Notes and reading
Amiri Baraka (died 2014) was a prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement. He was known for his provocative, politically charged and racially charged writings that often addressed themes of racial inequality and black empowerment. He became a leading voice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
Hannah Arendt – On Revolution (1963). A seminal work by a political philosopher on authentic democracy, political courage, the transformative potential of collective action, and the triumphs and tragedies of modern revolution.
Tocqueville – Quoted by Paul Reyer Soft Autocracy, Democracy Adrift (2009) is a “deliberately controversial” diagnosis of liberal democracy today. Rahe is a political scientist and historian (Stanford University, University of Chicago, Hillsdale College) and is widely respected in academic circles.
Robert Bellah – Habits of the Mind (1985). Bellah identifies three currents in American history, both descriptive and normative. He favors “civil republicanism” and the “biblical tradition,” emphasizing their normative importance.
John Dewey – “effective freedom.” Freedom and culture (1939, 1989), especially the chapter on “Freedom and Culture.”
Recently Recommended – I just started reading this to learn about cultural differences in the meaning of compassion: Compassion and moral guidance – Steve Bain, Asian Society for Comparative Philosophy (2013). Compassion is crucial in Asian ethical traditions. – Bain teaches philosophy at the University of Dayton. He received his PhD in philosophy from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and did graduate studies at Nanzan University in Nagoya and J. F. Oberlin University in Tokyo.
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