Each one of us has a set of guiding principles that shape our thought. These may be principles we have blindly inherited from our family, surroundings, or cultural exposure, or they may be ideas we have spent countless hours actively thinking about and debating, maybe even changing our mind a few times along the way before ultimately settling on a set of core principles we felt comfortable with.
Regardless of where your principles come from, or how you came to holding them dear, I believe that the vast majority of us have at least some of these in common, and that it is very rare for someone to have a completely unoverlapping set of core beliefs with the rest of the population. Extremes do exist, of course, but I (maybe naively) believe that most people are good-natured, and that at least on the theoretical plane common ground can be found with almost anyone.
Before we get to my core beliefs, I should say three things.
The first is that core principles can translate differently into actual (government) policy for two people: it is when we descend into the details of the policies that most people find themselves disagreeing with others. Most people would in fact agree that individuals should be free, that it is better to live in an environment with clean air and water rather than in a polluted environment, and that freedom of expression is a good thing. But as you can imagine, people will often disagree on the best way to reach a clean environment, or what qualifies as “free speech”. I am not taking sides (yet), just making a point.
Secondly, different principles have different levels of importance to different people. Some people may for example prioritise freedom of the individual, while some other may prioritise the good of society as a whole. Everyone can agree that, if possible, both should be maximised, but exactly how you strike a balance between two (sometimes) competing principles is another source of conflict.
Lastly, when I say that I believe common ground can be found with most people, I am not referring to any part of the political spectrum. In other words, I am not saying that by being a ‘centrist’ you can find the most common ground with others, nor am I suggesting that I am a ‘centrist’ or that being one is desirable. By referencing any part of the political spectrum we are stepping out of the ‘theoretical’ plane into the sphere of politics, and so concrete policies. I believe common ground can be found in the theory much more frequently than in the practice, and that most people are overlooking the fundamental fact that at least in the theory they have something in common with almost everyone. For now, I would like to remain in the plane of theoretical, absolute principles, without worrying about which principle is more important than the other(s), and simply try to establish some common ground with you, the reader. While I am sure we will disagree on some of my content, we can hopefully find some common ground in my ‘core beliefs’ (which by the way are very much the result of active, fierce debates and my own personal journey).
Stay tuned.
Regardless of where your principles come from, or how you came to holding them dear, I believe that the vast majority of us have at least some of these in common, and that it is very rare for someone to have a completely unoverlapping set of core beliefs with the rest of the population. Extremes do exist, of course, but I (maybe naively) believe that most people are good-natured, and that at least on the theoretical plane common ground can be found with almost anyone.
Before we get to my core beliefs, I should say three things.
The first is that core principles can translate differently into actual (government) policy for two people: it is when we descend into the details of the policies that most people find themselves disagreeing with others. Most people would in fact agree that individuals should be free, that it is better to live in an environment with clean air and water rather than in a polluted environment, and that freedom of expression is a good thing. But as you can imagine, people will often disagree on the best way to reach a clean environment, or what qualifies as “free speech”. I am not taking sides (yet), just making a point.
Secondly, different principles have different levels of importance to different people. Some people may for example prioritise freedom of the individual, while some other may prioritise the good of society as a whole. Everyone can agree that, if possible, both should be maximised, but exactly how you strike a balance between two (sometimes) competing principles is another source of conflict.
Lastly, when I say that I believe common ground can be found with most people, I am not referring to any part of the political spectrum. In other words, I am not saying that by being a ‘centrist’ you can find the most common ground with others, nor am I suggesting that I am a ‘centrist’ or that being one is desirable. By referencing any part of the political spectrum we are stepping out of the ‘theoretical’ plane into the sphere of politics, and so concrete policies. I believe common ground can be found in the theory much more frequently than in the practice, and that most people are overlooking the fundamental fact that at least in the theory they have something in common with almost everyone. For now, I would like to remain in the plane of theoretical, absolute principles, without worrying about which principle is more important than the other(s), and simply try to establish some common ground with you, the reader. While I am sure we will disagree on some of my content, we can hopefully find some common ground in my ‘core beliefs’ (which by the way are very much the result of active, fierce debates and my own personal journey).
Stay tuned.