I’m a little confused, and I think it might be because you’re using “conflict theorist” different from how I do.
For me, a conflict theorist is someone who thinks the main driver of disagreement is self-interest rather than honest mistakes. There can be mistake theorists and conflict theorists on both sides of the “is billionaire philanthropy good?” question, and on the “are individual actions acceptable even though they’re nondemocratic?” question.
It sounds like you’re using it differently, so I want to make sure I know exactly what you mean before replying.
You say you’ve given up understanding the number of basically people who disagree with things you think are obvious and morally obligatory. I suspect there’s a big confusion about what ‘basically good’ means here, I’m making a note of it for future posting, but moving past that for now: When you examine specific cases of such disagreements happening, what do you find how often? (I keep writing possible things, but on reflection avoiding anchoring you is better)
I think I usually find we’re working off different paradigms, in the really strong Kuhnian sense of paradigm.
For me, a conflict theorist is someone who thinks the main driver of disagreement is self-interest rather than honest mistakes.
I don’t see how to reconcile this with:
Conflict theorists treat politics as war. Different blocs with different interests are forever fighting to determine whether the State exists to enrich the Elites or to help the People.
It’s pretty hard to tell what you find hard to reconcile in the two quotes.
‘Politics as war’ is the same as ‘different sides fight for their own self-interest’, e.g. “whether the State exists to enrich the Elites or to help the People”.
The ‘honest mistakes’ perspective would be that any particular policy might be good or bad, or whatever mix thereof, and disagreements about that would be due to different beliefs and NOT due to simply supporting one’s side.
I’m a little confused, and I think it might be because you’re using “conflict theorist” different from how I do.
For me, a conflict theorist is someone who thinks the main driver of disagreement is self-interest rather than honest mistakes. There can be mistake theorists and conflict theorists on both sides of the “is billionaire philanthropy good?” question, and on the “are individual actions acceptable even though they’re nondemocratic?” question.
It sounds like you’re using it differently, so I want to make sure I know exactly what you mean before replying.
I think I usually find we’re working off different paradigms, in the really strong Kuhnian sense of paradigm.
I don’t see how to reconcile this with:
It’s pretty hard to tell what you find hard to reconcile in the two quotes.
‘Politics as war’ is the same as ‘different sides fight for their own self-interest’, e.g. “whether the State exists to enrich the Elites or to help the People”.
The ‘honest mistakes’ perspective would be that any particular policy might be good or bad, or whatever mix thereof, and disagreements about that would be due to different beliefs and NOT due to simply supporting one’s side.