The left-right political spectrum classifies political positions as being either left (liberal) or right (conservative). Although an individual may take a "left stance" on some matters and a "right stance" on others, many individuals (including myself) find themselves taking the same-sided stance on many different matters. For example, I favor secular government, economic planning and hold the belief that law dictates culture. These are classical "left stances".
Lately, I've been reading. And as Vernon Gregory Little remarked, "You're cursed when you realize true things, because then you can't act with the full confidence of dumbness anymore." Thomas Sowell proposed that the "nature vs. nurture" argument underlies the left-right dichotomy. Rightists believe in a "Tragic Vision": individuals are bound by their nature. Leftists believe in a "Utopian Vision": a better society can nurture better individuals. This makes sense. However, I also find myself in agreement with, amongst others, Steven Pinker (who I discovered through TED), that we are not blank slates; there is a human nature. So, is my world-view inconsistent? Hopefully not, but it certainly needs refinement.
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