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 New Socialist Settlement by Roger Warren Evans
first published 20 March 2002
I Foundation Values
Equality and fraternity are the two prime values of the traditional socialist settlement. They remain foundation values. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine any coherent European political philosophy, whether of the Right or the Left, which does not share this point of departure. Having both been articulated as philosophical perceptions or "values" at an early stage in the development of European thought, both equality and fraternity have subsequently been decisively
vindicated by human experience and confirmed by scientific evidence.
The equality of all human beings, is confirmed by scientific evidence - by blood-group patterns, genome analysis, organ-transferability, physiological analysis
(brain size, physical strength), anthropology, and the observable ease of integrative mating. Man, everywhere, is born equal - and more important, every individual is deserving of equal recognition and respect from all.
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NB I am aware of the elision between my cognitive and my normative - man "is"
equal on the one hand, and "deserves" equality of respect on the other - but I
believe the verifiable equalities are of overwhelming significance.
The value of fraternity is also confirmed by the anthropological and psychological evidence of man as a social animal.
Man does not resemble any of the "loner" species. Social interaction is
fundamental to the successful survival of each individual. Solitary
confinement represents the worst oppression of all. The Darwinian success of mankind has demonstrated the strength of collective action, and the importance of maintaining functional social relationships between individuals. Social interaction of all kinds (in hunting, crop cultivation, child-rearing and other caring, making war, and maintaining social order) has informed the success of the human species. High intelligence has enabled mankind to develop exceptional social skills. "Fraternity" has the most substantial of foundations, in terms of scientific evidence. The originating philosophical perceptions have been deepened by scientific understanding. Many religions have also served to consolidate these values, certainly Christianity. Christians have preached the equality of each individual before God, and the primacy of love in the cultivation of all social relationships: equality and fraternity have lain at the core of Christian religious teaching. These values have been particularly strong in the Protestant denominations that have so strongly influenced the modern Anglo-American tradition.
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The ringing endorsement by the Quaker George Fox of "that of God in every man" reflected the radical egalitarianism of English 17th Protestantism. And that fed into the revolutionary thinking of the 18th century, both of Tom Paine and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
These foundation values are so deeply-rooted that they constitute a datum, a given foundation of the New Socialist Settlement, from which other values fall to be argued. Equality is so fundamental that it is even adopted by the European Right, albeit modified by reference to the more oblique equalities, such as those of opportunity, expectations and prospects. True, the assertion of literal material equality is now rare, even on the European Left, although the concept is reflected in the formulation of left-wing policies for education and health services.
And the full political ramifications of equality have yet to be worked out, in the global drive against discrimination on grounds of race, ethnicity, religion, gender and language, and in the evolution of a dignified international system for regulating global migration. Equality remains the spring to which all socialists return, time and time again, for inspiration.
Even fraternity, the value that has so powerfully animated the British trade union movement, enjoys firm foundation status. As "community", it retains a powerful hold upon the popular imagination. It was the awesome mistake of Margaret Thatcher to challenge the primacy of fraternity, with her words - "there is no such thing as society". Doubtless she did not anticipate the furore caused by that remark, and she may well not have intended all its implications. But the very fact that those words could pass her lips at all was profoundly significant. With those words, a political chasm suddenly opened up, a bleak emptiness of spirit, and that dramatically weakened her political position and reputation. For she was pouring scorn upon one of the foundation values of European civilisation.
That was a key moment in the unravelling of the Thatcherite Settlement. For without cultivating a deep respect for these foundation values, no European political movement can last for long. Equality and fraternity resonate powerfully, throughout our common European home.
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NB These are ideas also canvassed, in a more objective "scientific" context
by my 1992 essay
Multiple Differential Uncertainty - take a look.
- I >>>
Foundation Values
II >>
Individual Freedom
III >
Democracy
IV >
Public Primacy
V >>
Eternal Vigilance
What do you think? Drop me a line.
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