social conservatism - why do we need it?

[induz]

Social conservatism IMO rests on the following premises:

- "Things were always done this way".  And?  Whilst tradition does lend to continuity and grounding, it doesn't mean was is traditional is inherently good or desired.  it's perhaps better to cite why traditions exist.  For example, in the UK it's traditional to eat pies at football matches based on it being a readily made food.  But this does not mean this is some law of the universe, which we're condemned for not adhering to.

- It rests on absolutes and eternal values.  However, people living in the 17th or 18th centuries could only ever see things via their own conceptions.  To them, there were firm absolutes, as they had no methodologies to question this.  So social conservatism worked for them in their own paradigms.  To suggest it will work in every model/scenario is arrogant.  What's more is that people tend to pooh-pooh modern thinking on relativism, but IMO people do this since it scares them.  What is truly absolute in this universe?  What can be proven as such?  If one lived in a society pre-modern philosophy, the Enlightenment or contemporary science, what is to be expected?  

- People often say social liberalism permits "perverse" behaviour.  But what is normal?  Again, via greater inquiry/knowledge we know that normalcy doesn't exist.  The crazy neighbour who lives as a wolf in his back yard is acting normal for him per his own standards.  People in the 18th century simply didn't possess the knowledge to comprehend that.  

tl;dr.  To be succinct, I'm saying that social conservatism is not "eternal" and that any absolute nature was illusory based on the limits of past societies' knowledge.

I would not even say modern knowledge is absolute.  Maybe people in 500 years will laugh at us for not knowing what causes gravity, who knows?  lol.

[Solitary]

Have you ever thought about screwing your self?  :rollin:  He! He! Solitary

[induz]

yeah.. so to ask about the relevance of past social models is bad now?

[Plu]

"Appeal to tradition" is a common fallacy. Any kind of social model based upon it would automatically also be a pretty bad idea.