Sunday, July 15, 2007

Conventionalism

Austin Cline has another terrific Sunday posting over at the General's place. [Surely you know about the "Official Online Organ of the Glorious Conservative Christian Cultural Revolution." It's a great place for clever snark, but that's my inner Frenchman speaking. General J. C. Christian is very serious. ]

Cline discusses "Authoritarian Personality vs. Authoritarian Worldview." He distinguishes between those who need authoritarianism and those who foster it for their own purposes. There can be overlap, of course.

This is one of many discussions about this topic. Cline draws on James Waller's book, Becoming Evil and also refers to Theodor W. Adorno's writing in The Authoritarian Personality.

Here is one provocative sentence (with an epexegetical phrase to clarify what is meant):
Conventionalism [rigid adherence to conventional, middle-class values] appears to be what lies behind all forms of bigotry, discrimination, and exclusion.

Short and interesting article. The BB says "check it out."

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