The Evolution of the Term Conservative - Essay Example

Words are what have constantly maintained the remarkable philosophies of conservatives and liberals alike, not their translation into real action.

On restating the position of Prof. Tony Judt, T. Sowell observes that agreement with ‘leaving individuals the maximum space with which to live and flourish as desired’ is in keeping with the common idealistic knowledge about liberalism. Originally, the latter pertains to the principle of signifying the right to freedom and equality and most liberals advocate views that are key concepts to facilitate understanding of liberal democracy, constitutionalism, human rights, and fair elections among the relevant fundamental ideas, Justice O.W. Holmes, nonetheless, occurs to have vividly expressed contradiction according to the prevailing truth that natural perception or instinct cannot deny as it takes place. For him, things must be thought of, not words, as if to imply that liberals ought to cease dwelling in the tradition of intellectual endeavor which rather maintains beliefs within abstract realms that cannot yet exhibit such complex thinking through an actualized form.

By exemplifying communities which have frequently elected liberal officials for quite a great while, the article reveals having found the current trend the political practice as surprisingly confusing which one might get at trying to match the public official’s character with the assumed label, such as when a supposed liberal politician operates with micromanagement of regulations.

Similarly, a conservative attitude is presented to project a negative aspect perhaps for the obvious contrasts that its primary notion bears with the modern perspective of a society that has advanced and outlived the old civilization too far. As Sowell notes that conservatism has no significant political meaning, it appears that politics, for the sake of keeping up with the radical concerns of the current times, find it convenient to put off the idea due to conspicuous inapplicability. No wonder that the majority across the nation have long gotten rid of it, treating conservatism to be as good as a common disease that belongs to the past and may no longer be acknowledged to acquire any tendency of existence and contribution at the present. These sentiments are compatible with the general notion that conservatism has been known – that social philosophy that believes in the essence of maintaining traditional social, economic, and political systems with only a minimal or gradual modification to necessitate improving them.

Prof. Friedman who the author mentioned to have struggled at removing such a label which others insisted connected with his identity is a concrete instance of a liberal who disowned being conservative but was a unique one who justified the authenticity of a liberal by heart. Public schools and the Federal Reserve System are among the institutions for which his radical propositions were meant to be implemented by sincere liberalism. Read More