Core NeoCon Thought

(in one page)

 

NeoCon thought has three roots:

* Middle American Protestant culture

* American Pragmatism

* The political thought of Locke and Hobbe as understood by Hans Morgenthau

Middle American Protestant culture

Middle Americans stand proud of their Judeo-Christian heritage. They (we) believe America was birthed as a unique and transcendent experiment in democracy and commerce. Judeo-Christian tradition manifested itself in the genius of America's founding fathers, bursting forth in a written Constitution with amendments and a multi-faceted elective government. Middle Americans stand proud of American history and America's institutions.

Middle America trumpets its pride in America's contributions to global prosperity, to the triumph of commerce on a worldwide scale and the overflowing generosity of the American people in supplying the world with resources, with the sacrifice of American lives and the vigilant protection of international security. "We like who we are."

American Pragmatism

Pragmatic thought is first identified with Charles Peirce, championed and explicated by America's beloved John Dewey and most recently elucidated by Richard Rorty. Pragmatic thought thrives with many roots and many branches. Pragmatism has two central principles viewed from a current perspective: (1) No ideology, no religion and no great theory is relevant to understanding our world. (2) All learning is empirical and subject to never ending questioning and falsification.

Pragmatists accept the world as it is, as best we can perceive it. Knowledge cries out to use any tools of understanding available. Commerce, science, technology and politics are all tools of pragmatic learning. "Show me that it works."

Locke and Hobbes as understood by Hans Morgenthau

Hans Morgenthau was concerned with international institutions: states, alliances and national histories. To Morgenthau the central determinants of a rational international policy are based on national interests and real power as measured by military might, economic resources and political will.

Morgenthau's roots in Locke and Hobbes are the same roots as America's Founding Fathers'. The parallel roots of American domestic structure and American foreign policy in Locke and Hobbes gives neocon thought particular power. "Humans are part of institutions that govern their behavior, for better and worse."