Thanks for keeping me honest. Realistically, I don't expect myself to change my fundamental philosophical principles, so it wouldn't be fair to expect someone else to. However, as you point out, that's not what happened with Sullivan. He attributes his change of sides to a "return" to strict Oakeshott-ian philosophy. (Although Jonathan Raban appears skeptical in the article.)

This is what I find most appealing. Over our lives, we don't so much change our philosophical principles as refine them. As we refine them, and as situations change, that often necessitates the re-examination of the relationship between our principles and our more practical political positions. We must ask ourselves: j...

Thanks for keeping me honest. Realistically, I don't expect myself to change my fundamental philosophical principles, so it wouldn't be fair to expect someone else to. However, as you point out, that's not what happened with Sullivan. He attributes his change of sides to a "return" to strict Oakeshott-ian philosophy. (Although Jonathan Raban appears skeptical in the article.)

This is what I find most appealing. Over our lives, we don't so much change our philosophical principles as refine them. As we refine them, and as situations change, that often necessitates the re-examination of the relationship between our principles and our more practical political positions. We must ask ourselves: just because I'm "conservative," does voting Republican really represent my values? Just because I'm "liberal" does voting Democrat really represent my values?

For many, this answer is a foregone conclusion, and one not made by themselves but made by a political atmosphere of conformity. This is the ideological stagnation I'm worried about: when people stop making the individual links between their ideas and their politics, but instead accept the stereotypes that politicians impose on them.

I admire the fearless passion and slight recklessness of an Andrew Sullivan or a Christopher Hitchens who is not afraid to commit fervently to what they believe, but can also abandon old positions and adopt new ones when they discover a better way to express their own beliefs.

No, I do not believe that there is an ideological stagnation in America. In fact, it is the opposite. People are no longer exercising their freedom in judging political issues. They analyse and judge according to party lines - right or wrong. Although I disagree with his attitude now I cannot help but admire his honesty. He has made indeed a free judgment. Because of him I have to rethink some of my take on certain political issues because I may have missed something he saw. That's how positive an influence can be if it is NOT based on ideology. Sadly, however, you are nowadays a Republican, a Democrat, a "Liberal" (whatever that means here in America), or just a run-of-the-mill nutc...

No, I do not believe that there is an ideological stagnation in America. In fact, it is the opposite. People are no longer exercising their freedom in judging political issues. They analyse and judge according to party lines - right or wrong. Although I disagree with his attitude now I cannot help but admire his honesty. He has made indeed a free judgment. Because of him I have to rethink some of my take on certain political issues because I may have missed something he saw. That's how positive an influence can be if it is NOT based on ideology. Sadly, however, you are nowadays a Republican, a Democrat, a "Liberal" (whatever that means here in America), or just a run-of-the-mill nutcase - irrespective of what elements are involved in a given political or social issue. (Even religion is being brought into it. My goodness, whoever heard of a religious ideologue??)
Yes, a very useful clip...!