First Principles – Open Thread

First Principles Journal gives us a list from which to start our consideration.  While the list is intended to be of the core principles upon which the United States was founded, I believe it an excellent start on a list of Conservatism’s basic principles: limited government, the rule of law, individual liberty,personal responsibility, free-market economy, and the moral norms of Western civilization.  Now on to seeking the true first principles of Conservatism.  I believe the question to be answered is, are those the true first principles or can they be derived to other more basic principles.  Understanding this will help us develop better tools with which to discuss what has happened and is happening within our Country.

I’ll start things off with an outline of the principles and information that either supports it as a first principle, suggests it should be distilled further, or that it is otherwise inadequate.

Limited Government

• Equality of Citizens and Sovereigns
• Hobbes posited the opposite  – hand control to an unaccountable sovereign as a means to avoid what he felt would result in a “state of nature” resembling civil war

The Rule of Law

• Natural Law (legal theory)
• Absolute Truth
  • – existence and derivatives? (Descartes)
  • vs. the dangers of relativism
    • blurring of the truth, multiple conflicting truths, confusion and anxiety diminish will to improve methods of thinking
  • Unalterable facts, unalienable truths