Mistake theorists treat politics as science, engineering, or medicine. The State is diseased. We’re all doctors, standing around arguing over the best diagnosis and cure. Some of us have good ideas, others have bad ideas that wouldn’t help, or that would cause too many side effects.
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.Mistake Theory:
- Treats politics like science
- View debate as essential
- Treats sides as symmetrical
- Worry about complicated effects of social engineering
- Think you can save the world by increasing intelligence
- Think passion is inadequate or even suspect
- Plays role as arbiter of debate
- Evaluates arguments
- Thinks racism is a cognitive bias
- Criticize democracy over too much power to average person
- Thinks revolution is stupid
- Thinks conflict theorists are making a mistake
Conflict Theory:
- Treats politics like war
- View debate as less important
- Treats sides as asymmetrical
- Thinks the effects of social engineering are more obvious
- Think you can save the world by increasing passion
- Think intelligence is inadequate or even suspect
- Plays role as participant in debate
- Evaluates people (friends/enemies like Koch Brothers/ George Soros)
- Thinks racism is a conflict between races
- Criticize democracy over too little power to average person
- Thinks technocracy is stupid
- Think mistake theorists are the enemy in their conflict
