Bridging the Moral Foundations for Wisdom & Classical Liberal Thinking
Jonathan Haidt’s Moral Foundations Theory suggests that people’s political and ideological leanings are shaped by their moral intuitions, which generally fall into five key categories:
Care/Harm – Compassion and protecting others from suffering.
Fairness/Cheating – Justice, equality, and proportionality.
Loyalty/Betrayal – Commitment to groups, traditions, and in-groups.
Authority/Subversion – Respect for hierarchy, institutions, and leadership.
Sanctity/Degradation – Valuing purity, sacredness, and resisting moral decay.
Progressives tend to emphasize Care and Fairness, while conservatives tend to value all five moral foundations more equally, especially Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity. Classical liberalism, which balances both traditions, requires integrating all five foundations to develop a complete, wise, and adaptable worldview.
How to Bridge the Moral Foundations & Achieve Wisdom
Develop Intellectual Humility
- Recognize that no single ideology has all the answers.
- Be open to perspectives from both the left and the right to understand their moral concerns.
- Engage in good-faith discussions instead of dismissing opposing views outright.
Balance Compassion with Responsibility
- Care/Harm is vital, but excessive focus on victimhood can lead to entitlement culture.
- Pair empathy with personal responsibility—helping others while encouraging self-sufficiency.
- Example: Charity is good, but fostering dependence can be harmful in the long run.
Understand the Nuances of Fairness
- Progressives often see fairness as equality of outcome, while conservatives focus on equality of opportunity.
- A balanced perspective recognizes that some inequalities are natural, while others are unjust and need correction.
- Example: Merit-based systems should be protected, but corruption and nepotism must be challenged.
Appreciate the Role of Tradition & Institutions
- Many progressives reject Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity as outdated or oppressive.
- However, institutions like family, religion, and national identity provide stability and meaning.
- Example: A society that discards all traditions for “progress” risks losing its cultural foundation.
Recognize the Dangers of Unchecked Authority
- While conservatives value law and order, unchecked authority can lead to tyranny.
- Government power should be limited and decentralized, preserving individual rights.
- Example: Supporting the military and police is important, but questioning overreach (like mass surveillance) is also necessary.
Cultivate a Sense of the Sacred While Avoiding Dogma
- The left often disregards Sanctity/Degradation, while the right sometimes leans into moral absolutism.
- A balanced approach appreciates the sacredness of life, tradition, and morality while avoiding extreme dogmatism.
- Example: Freedom of speech should be protected, but cultural decay shouldn’t be ignored either.
The Classical Liberal Mindset: A Synthesis of Left & Right
A classical liberal is not a centrist but someone who integrates the strengths of both progressivism and conservatism while avoiding their weaknesses.
- Care & Fairness → Support individual liberty while helping those in need responsibly.
- Loyalty & Authority → Respect institutions while holding them accountable (They must earn trust on a daily basis).
- Sanctity → Value tradition and morality while embracing necessary reform.
Wisdom comes from understanding both sides, rejecting ideological rigidity, and embracing complexity. A whole, well-rounded person thinks critically, respects history, and adapts to new challenges without abandoning core principles.
