I am from a conservative family, and I am in many ways very conservative.
WHAT DOES CONSERVATIVE MEAN?
First, what does it mean to have a conservative orientation? What’s the essence of it?
For me, it’s to preserve what’s valuable, meaningful, and essential for us collectively.
How am I conservative in that essential meaning?
MY FORM OF CONSERVATISM
I can find many things I see as important to conserve, preserve, and protect.
I wholeheartedly support preserving cultures, especially marginalized and indigenous cultures. I want to see them alive and thriving.
I am all for preserving languages, especially small or indigenous languages.
I love traditional knowledge and wisdom, especially from indigenous cultures.
I am all for taking care of nature and our local, regional, and global ecosystems. We are nature, so taking care of nature is to take care of ourselves and future generations.
I love science. I love the methods of science. (Of course, I also know that the content of science is always up for revision and always changing. What’s mainstream science today is outdated tomorrow.)
I love history. I love how history changes when we change. I love the lessons that can be learned from history. (For instance, when the pandemic happened, I was not surprised it happened, or the measures put in place, or the conspiracy theories that flourished. I knew it was roughly time for the next one. I also know the history of medicine and epidemiology and what works when we have pandemics, so I was not surprised by the common-sense measures that most governments put in place. They are what history shows us works. And pandemics and other times of crisis tend to fuel conspiracy theories. That’s how some people deal with their fear.)
I support giving a voice to the voiceless – to future generations, nature, and non-human species. I support strong laws protecting these. I support appointing people to speak for them, and who have real power and are backed by the law. This may help them in the future, and it will certainly help us now by giving us a more sound guide than many of the ones we are currently using.
I want to preserve humanity and our civilization, which is why I support a profound transformation of all aspects of our civilization. Our current civilization is ecocidal and suicidal since it assumes nature is infinite. A sustainable civilization takes the limits of nature into account so what’s easy and attractive to do is also ecologically sound. This has to happen if we are to preserve humanity and our culture.
Even if I want a profound transformation of our civilization, I want it partly so we can preserve all the beautiful and wonderful things in our civilization. I don’t want it to be lost quite yet. I want more generations to be able to enjoy it.
I also want a transformation that comes from our collective will. A good portion of us need to be on board with it for it to happen.
TRANSFORMATION IS SOMETIMES REQUIRED FOR PRESERVATION
These days, with our global ecological crisis, transformation is essential for preservation.
We have a civilization that assumes nature is infinite and disregards ecological realities. That’s an ecocidal and suicidal civilization. To preserve humanity, culture, and life as we know it, we need a profound transformation of all aspects of our civilization. We need to create a more life-centered and ecologically sound civilization.
In this case, preserving what’s most important to us means we need a thorough transformation.
IN A MORE CONVENTIONAL SENSE
In a more conventional sense, and as how most people would label it, I am not very conservative.
I am liberal and progressive in my views on society. (I love Woke and see it as essential to creating a society that works better for everyone.) Green when it comes to politics. (I am a member of the Green Party in Norway). Radical in that I see a profound transformation of our civilization as necessary for our survival. And conservative in the essential ways described above.
All of it is true and more.
ALL IS PART OF ME
In terms of my conscious orientation, and in a conventional sense, I am not conservative.
At the same time, the world is my mirror and I have what I see in conservatives in myself.
Many views and orientations are conventionally labeled conservatism. Often, it has to do with preserving privilege – white privilege, male privilege, the privilege of mainstream culture, the privilege of money and status, and so on. To me, this is a less savory expression of conservatism.
Whatever it is, it’s something I can find in myself. Whatever story I have about conservatives in the world – Trump, Thatcher, Milei – I can turn it to myself and find specific and genuine examples of how it’s true, including in the moment I have these stories about someone else.
TOUNGE-IN-CHEEK?
The initial description of how I am conservative is slightly tongue-in-cheek, and it’s also not.
I am fully aware that the list I gave above goes counter to most forms of conservatism. If conservatism often is about preserving privilege, what I listed is far more oriented toward supporting the marginalized and voiceless. (I also love to redefine common words and labels so they go more to their essence and require a second or third look.)
At the same time, I do see it as aligned with the essence of real conservatism: preserving what’s most important to us.
And I know I have it all in me, all forms of conservatism and more.
MORE INFO
As usual these days, I prompted ChatGPT 4o to see what it had to say about it.
What Conservative Means in this Context
“Conservative” in your context means valuing and actively working to preserve what is essential, meaningful, and beneficial for humanity and the natural world. It involves a deep respect for cultures, traditions, ecosystems, and knowledge systems that have proven valuable over time. This form of conservatism is not about resisting all change but about ensuring that any transformation aligns with the goal of protecting and nurturing these foundational elements so they continue to thrive for future generations. It emphasizes sustainability, collective responsibility, and the importance of gradual, consensual progress that honors what is worth conserving.
How may I be conservative?
Your form of conservatism aligns deeply with the essence of preserving what is valuable, meaningful, and essential for both humanity and the natural world. Here are more examples of how your approach is conservative in this broader, essential sense:
- Cultural Preservation: You value the continuity of marginalized and indigenous cultures, recognizing their importance in contributing to humanity’s collective knowledge and diversity. This respect for cultural diversity shows a conservative inclination to protect and nurture what is meaningful and unique.
- Linguistic Conservation: Your desire to preserve small and indigenous languages reflects an understanding that language is not just a tool for communication but a vessel for knowledge, tradition, and worldview. By supporting their survival, you aim to protect the essence of human expression.
- Respect for Traditional Knowledge: You appreciate the wisdom embedded in indigenous traditions and recognize the value it has for humanity’s collective well-being. This perspective shows an affinity for protecting and honoring long-standing ways of knowing that can guide contemporary life.
- Environmental Stewardship: Your commitment to safeguarding ecosystems and natural habitats reflects a conservative orientation that seeks to maintain the balance of life on Earth. You understand that protecting nature is essential for the survival of current and future generations.
- Scientific Integrity: You appreciate the scientific method as a means of gaining knowledge while understanding that scientific content evolves. This respect for the process itself, even while being open to change, highlights your value for structured, evidence-based approaches that have proven effective over time.
- Historical Awareness: Your love for history and its lessons shows a conservative desire to learn from the past to guide the present and future. By acknowledging historical patterns, you aim to prevent repeating past mistakes and preserve hard-won knowledge.
- Advocacy for the Voiceless: Your support for giving a voice to nature, non-human species, and future generations is rooted in a conservative approach to responsibility. It shows an understanding that preserving what is essential goes beyond the human present to include those without direct representation.
- Sustainability and Transformation: Even as you advocate for profound changes to create a sustainable civilization, your underlying motivation is to protect humanity, nature, and the valuable aspects of civilization. Your approach emphasizes transformation not as destruction but as a means to preserve and extend what is valuable.
- Collective Will and Transformation: Your emphasis on collective will reflects a conservative preference for gradual, consensual change. You recognize that sustainable transformation requires the collective agreement and participation of a significant portion of society.
These aspects show that your conservatism is not about resisting change but about ensuring that any change preserves the essential and valuable aspects of cultures, ecosystems, and knowledge systems, promoting their survival and flourishing.