Conservatism: Role of mental models, a quick look

By: Shahab Sabahi, Policy analyst in Energy Security and Policy Research Group

Conservatism is an ideology which values the status quo and accepts change only reluctantly and at a very slow pace [Adana, J.]. It is based upon the premise that human institutions are the product of a gradual process of experience or intrinsically existed, and that they have endured because they have proven to be effective over a long period of time. It follows that it would be most irresponsible to change these institutions and practices in any fundamental way [West, N.]. From conservatism’s view, it is not realistic to expect that workable new institutions and practices can be introduced to replace existing ones except through a long gradual process of experimentation. To do otherwise is to invite chaos. Where does this idea come from?

To answer the question above, I attempt to examine conservatism based on the human mental idea creation mechanism. People in all human societies create mental models of reality. The mental models attribute causality to factors; sometimes invisible ones; which make the world affairs more predictable and easy to understand. In earlier societies, these invisible forces were spirits and nature; today they are abstraction like scientific theories, socio-economic hypothesis. All world views and beliefs constitute a metal model of reality, in which observable events are attributed to either nonvisible or visible forces. Shared mental models are critical in facilitating large scale collective actions by setting common goals. Shared mental models are bases for social rules and shaping institutions, since the models often suggest clear rules for societies to follow. Oftentimes rules and institutions are enforced in the form of beliefs. They contain with considerable emotional elements and therefore are believed for intrinsic reasons and not simply because they are context related and accurate for just specific times. Intrinsic values are unchallengeable and thus become foundations for other sub-rules and institutions. Rules and institutions with intrinsic values are heritable, so they should be saved generation through generation by right people who understand the intrinsic values. They are always interpreted as effective rules as they continuously set parallel common goals, failure to one give a success for other one.    

All of this reinforces the fundamental conservatism, because with presence of beliefs and emotion, mental models of reality once adopted are hard to change in the light of new evidence that prove they are not working. 

 

 

Driving forces for socioeconomic change

Shahab Sabahi
Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group

Since Herbert Spencer who submitted that society should evolve from barbarian forms to civilized forms, the debate on the causes of progress or changes in society has been heated up. From Spencer’s view as society evolves, the most capable individuals rise to the top and the least capable die out. He termed this idea on social order "survival of the fittest”.  Karl Marx took a holistic approach and synthesized sociology and economics to analyze the causes of changes in society. Marx theorized that the driving force behind social order was class conflict. Class conflict theory states that the capitalists (those who possessed resources fit to create wealth) were constantly in conflict with the proletariat (workers who do not own the means of production).

In the search for the cause of changes in society, one of the widely discussed concept was introduced by Max Weber. In his treatise "Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism" Weber combines psychological & sociological variables with economic development. Because of its determination of the value systems of societies, he put primary importance on religion. According to Weber, the Protestant religion was a precondition for capitalistic development for two reasons: Protestant ethics led to an ascetic life style which, instead of advocating affluence, reinvested the proceeds. As well, it is the basis of rationalism and goal achievement behaviour. While a value system which motivates economic development can hardly be limited to Protestantism Weber's stress on values and the resulting motivation influenced later thought.

In more recent times, Parsons and Smelser explained economic development as a result of tension and unrest in societies. If a traditional undifferentiated society experiences economic growth and economic differentiation as a result of external inputs, this leads to unrest. Frustration of groups of the population not & participating and gaining generates further differentiation and growth, and these small steps happen within relatively short times. McClelland sees the cause of underdevelopment in the absence of achievement motivation. The desire to do well to attain an inner feeling of personal accomplishment is the pre-requisite for innovative activity. Following McClelland's concept that a level of development is correlated with achievement motivation, Hagen tried to explain why this achievement motivation varies between societies and their classes and strata. He argues that in traditional societies the status of individuals is fixed. Children learn to act according to established norms, and deviations (initiative) are punished. If by external influences a new group gains power, the status of the old elite is challenged and weakened.

Perhaps one can say that the insecurity and frustration leads to changed behaviour in society which has consequences on the family structure the basic block of society. The young generations in families tend to become dissatisfied with society’s institutions and their contradictories with readily. The young generations develop new value system or accept existing alternative value systems. In time, they become innovative personalities, if these persons become dominant groups in the society, this causes economic development. Similar phenomena may happen as far as the changing situation of marginal groups or minorities is concerned.

Institutions and society's growth

Shahab Sabahi
Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group

How and why do societies grow? What are the consequences of growth? Does growth follow deterministic patterns? Can growth path be imitated in another location with similar results? If so why then some countries are able to achieve economic growth and better standards of living for their populations while others are not. Most of my time has been spent in last two years to do research on this topic with particular focus on role of natural resources, capitals, environment, social institutions, individuals and states and the rule of law. 

These issues concern social scientists Old and  the current economics frameworks has been well identifying sources of economic growth in terms of educational achievements, technology, market organization but hasn’t really dug deeper into why markets are organized differently. Why is it that in some places there is investment into education, or adoption and embracing of new technologies, and in other places there is not? That is the point that economics alone fails to help for searching answers. It requires bringing political economy and institutions in the picture. The major theme that has been keeping me busy right now is to understand the roles of institutions, how institutions emerge, and why dysfunctional institutions arise in different places.

In terms of statistical institution structure and its sources of creation and survival are rather complicated. Social scientists acknowledge elements such as geographic limitations, ecology, weather, natural resources, security problems, etc. which contribute to economic development and growth in much of the world. These scholars are essentially talking about elements that are outside of human control. But history tells us events that humans intentionally changed the course of growth or even initiated it even in the ground of environmental limitation.

So it sounds that to achieve a clear understanding we should examine the roles of institutions and how these social structures can provide leverage and influence in a way that mitigate the impact of various inherent environmental limitations. .

Society with the harmony of interests: free-man's desire

Shahab Sabahi
Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group

My ideology, world perception and reality mismatched. My mindset, it had shaped since my childhood, misled my perception to reality. Ambiguity was high in my every action. Why do I receive vice in return to my earlier wise to people? Should not I be nice? Do societies treat me unjust?

It was a struggle rather a challenge. It took me decades to find fallacy deep in myself. I do not think it is late. The discovery of realities always is sweet and brings happiness.

With a proper understanding of one's interest, it can be seen that there is a harmony of interests between rational people. We benefit extremely from positive interactions with others. This benefit comes in the form of the abundance of wealth made possible by the notion of real capitalism and in the form of knowledge advancement for mankind. It comes in the form of friendships, romantic love, and reciprocal support of kinships. The harmonies of interests bring men together in peaceful cooperation to benefit their lives. This is the bedrock of society. This would be a society to live in.

Although the desires of men may be opposed, their interests are not. It leads to a peaceful society where brings vast benefit to its habitants. Any possible advantage gain from living outside of a peaceful society is insignificant compared to the loss. Living in a wilderness may bring one more peace and quiet, but it is at the expense of friendships and the enormous material wealth possible in a society.

The harmony of interests only exists between rational men. Irrational men tend to use force against the interests of others. Men's interests are only in harmony with peaceful, voluntary interactions. Only when men live by the mutual reciprocal value-based altruism principle, their interests meet and steadily grow. Only when men accept value-based trade like principle, their society thrives in peace and just.

Don't let your value down

Value Judgment and Progress

Shahab Sabahi

Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group

What we discussed in my earlier post “progress” on October 23^rd 2011and in the social scientists group, briefly covered origins for the idea of progress and its implication for society development.  Similar lines of inquiry might be pursued through other sociological literature, with the result of showing case studies that attempt to explain society, and particularly social advance. What was missed, explicit definition for the significant and essential characteristic of human beings, for striving after the accomplishment of certain life-purposes (E. Kant).. Such terms as "struggle," "conflict," "survival," and "adaptation stand for legitimate and highly important concepts in social theory, but concepts nevertheless which can give us no clue to the true nature of human progress.  

 

The definition of progress does not imply continuous, uninterrupted advance along a smooth path, but rather the halting, infrequent lunges forward which the actual page of history discloses (B. Woods). It is possible to assume an attitude on the subject of human evolution and denying all significance to judgments of better or worse, passed on human life conditions in different ages. No matter which standards or codes picked, the concept of social valuations is universal, and, indeed inevitable. It is decidedly worth while that they should be founded, not on narrow interests or artificial conceptions of life, but on a survey of the largest horizon of truth about humanity which it is possible

In contrast to the prevailing original idea of gradual and continuous progress, the orthodox idea of cycles of change existed in the fabric of the philosophies of east and their perceptions of progress. It means regular succession of changes seen in the movements of perfect bodies the return of the seasons, the course of growth and decay in the animal and vegetable world, as well as by periods of degeneration and decline visible in the history of nation. This idea also could survive long and worked well in that part of the world. (Fukuyama)

In social level, progress is essentially an idea of value and teleological idea (Flint). It cannot, therefore, be reduced to a formulation in terms of mechanism. The theory of natural selection is essentially a theory of the mechanics of a process. Evolution in general is a process from homogeneous to heterogeneous (Spencer). In social level, the progress is path-determined (Arrow) and the process’s goal must be set and judged to be good, and involving both the process and the judgment.

However one may still argue that with separating the process from the value judgment, the element of subjectivity appears which it may misguide societies toward a sound direction. The counter argument is “Societies, whose values have survived over the course of history, can set a series of values which suit and serve their space and time (context) as they have done”. This standpoint may fall short when the value judgment is supposed to be taken in a collective global scale (globalization). The problem lies in reconciling a standard of human values, which is valid not because it corresponds to a social actuality, but to a social need with that other dominant conception. So remote the global society ideal of life may be!

A great deal of efforts has been made by social scientists to develop a universal framework to explain the conditions of human development, though this universal framework is inconsistent where the value judgments, ethics and priorities are at play. As Bury highlighted, progress itself, does not suggest its values as a doctrine. So in social level, there may not be a supreme object of action toward the union of human thoughts.

McDreamy: Sustainable lifestyle

Shahab Sabahi

Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group

In a new report, BBC news brought forward a topic “consumption” It claims that IF the entire world follow “the US-style consumption" our resources would be able to fully serve only 1.4 billion of the world population. In other word, this McDreamy lifestyle would be sustainable only for 20% of the earth inhabitants.

The report follows with another claim that a sum of US$ 200 million is daily spent for advertisement purposes and subsequently further encouragement for excess consumption.

Now the world leaders and economists whisper a prescription so-called “more domestic consumption" for China and other developing countries as a cure for the world economic growth recovery.  

DO YOU THINK, sociologists / philosophers should seize the moment and provide humankind with the fresh idea of life values? Should they redefine, what is so-called “the concept of progress” and “perfectionism” for policymakers and societies?

Review the definition of values

Shahab Sabahi

Energy and Environment for Development – Policy Analysis Research Group

The fact is that by nature capitalism has tendency to form cartels, shuffle off the costs of pollution and collapse under the weight of its own innovative financial instruments needs to be regulated by laws in order to employ its capacity for the general good. Business needs governing, as all organizations for reaching their optimal performance require law.

The question of the essence of progress and the necessity of a revision on it is critical in our days. It is crucial for economics to rethink about the application of the concept of progress. Too often it seems human interest gets subsumed to the market, that the is treated as absolute. A thing is often fundamentally worth more than what its buyer will pay for, something that can get lost by a science so focused on a particular theme.

Progress can become empty and mathematical, and conceal our possibility to be authentically be in the world (Heidegger) Heidegger critiques modern technological progress, and conceives of a truthful and correct attack on it. Businesses have an incentive to inflict common costs for financial gain which it makes the uncomfortable feeling with capitalism. In the liberal political structure the financial gain allows capitalism invests in the political power to manipulate policies and regulations. This political investment and politics-corporations close relationship will yield payoffs by the means of financial and externalities deregulation and dysfunctional policy (such as energy)

The sense of progress is often defined in terms of quantities. It could measure in a way to answer “to what extend the human needs of those quantities are fulfilled”. Our social, economic, and environmental systems are profoundly integrated and the quality of these links is by far, significant to the progress of the modern human