A Conflict of Visions

At the beginning of his classic book, Sowell raises the question of why people tend to cluster on opposite sides of apparently unrelated issues. If we think of global warming, health insurance, military or social welfare spending, the same groups take opposite sides. How do we understand this consistent, systematic difference of outlook about politics and public policy?Sowell points out that the usual terms in which such differences are discussed - conflicting values or interests, fail to capture this more fundamental divide. Behind these patterned differences on policy and politics lies a conflict between "constrained" and "unconstrained" visions. A "vision" in Sowell's sense is a pre-analytic cognitive act, a sense of causation that precedes rational articulation. Visions set the agenda for both thought and action.For Sowell, the constrained vision recognizes the wisdom of the generations and of the many now living, as operating in a way somewhat analogous to language. Language develops best and most richly in its actual usage by the many who speak it daily. For the compilers of dictionaries, usage and not the opinions of experts determines meaning.The constrained vision recognizes the limits of any one person's wisdom, experience, and expertise as well as the intransigence of human nature in face of efforts to "improve" it. It sees knowledge as the social experience of the many, not the expertise of the intellectuals. So it is skeptical of grand schemes to improve the world, focusing on unintended consequences and trade-offs, as opposed to solutions.The constrained vision is naturally democratic, as Sowell describes it, relying on the decisions of the many over time rather than the brilliance of the elite. It sees utopian schemes as intrinsically authoritarian or totalitarian, in that they arise from the brains of individuals, who then impose their plan on the many, regardless of their own opinion.Those with the constrained vision want to make the best of the possibilities for improvement within the existing constraints and human limitations, alert to the unintended consequences, failures, and tyranny that beset most grand schemes of social engineering. They are inclined to agree with Dr. Johnson (1709-1784):How small of all that human hearts endure,That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.They do not expect or try to change human nature and they rely on systemic processes and results rather than intentions.In the unconstrained vision, which Sowell finds in especially pure form in William Godwin, the philosophical anarchist who wrote Enquiry Concerning Political Justice (1793), intention is the essence of virtue. The unconstrained vision emphasizes the plasticity and perfectibility of man. Where those with the constrained vision see trade-offs, those with the unconstrained see solutions; where the first see results, they see purpose; where systemic processes, intentions. They discount the costs--all too evident in the last century--of attaining utopia. They discount tradition, the implicit knowledge and wisdom of the generations. "Nothing must be sustained because it is ancient, because we have been accustomed to regard it as sacred, or because it has been unusual to bring its validity into question," says Godwin.The unconstrained vision makes the sharpest distinction, the profoundest inequality between "persons of narrow views" (the masses) and the "cultivated." Wisdom without reflection is unthinkable and only the cultivated few are capable of either. As Marx argued in different terms, the unconstrained vision divides society into the active few and the passive many, the enlightened and the ignorant, those who are products of heredity and environment and those who (in their own estimation) rise above such determination.With its seemingly inherent elitism, the unconstrained vision readily ascribes a key role to intellectuals, activists, or experts, those who are ahead of the masses and must lead them, through coercion if necessary, to the point of knowledge and understanding at which they have already arrived.Sowell goes beyond identifying the clusters of beliefs and assumptions usually (but not always) associated with one or the other vision. He wants to operationalize the distinction to focus on those differences that define the two visions, the differences that systematically differentiate them.Both visions acknowledge that human life involves inherent limitations (e.g., death, need for food) but these limitations are seen as much more extensive and intractable in the constrained vision."What distinguishes those with the constrained vision is that the inherent constraints of human beings are seen as sufficiently severe to preclude the kind of dependence on individual articulated rationality that is the heart of the unconstrained vision" (pp.106-107).Sowell recognizes that his organizing contrast of constrained and unconstrained does not account for all cases. There are hybrids and inconsistencies in the vision of individuals and movements. It is rather a continuum or spectrum. But it does have extraordinary explanatory power, in my view. It enables us to see old dichotomies in social philosophy and social policy in illuminating ways. It helps to explain why, when new issues arise, like national health insurance, global warming, or same-sex marriage, no matter how completely unrelated the topics seem, people divide on them into predicable clusters.In the second part of the book, Sowell applies his dichotomy to particular areas in which opposed visions conflict - equality, power, and justice. He offers illuminating discussions of legal justice, individual rights, and social justice, for example, showing how the two visions differ systematically.Sowell is a prolific polemicist, but this book is not one-sided or polemical in the manner of his opinion columns or even some of his books, like the provocatively titled The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy or The Quest for Cosmic Justice. I have used it in teaching doctoral students, who found it both enlightening and challenging. The challenge comes from the complexity of the argument and the range and depth of scholarship on which it draws, as well as its revealing critique of much received opinion in academia.

"A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles" by Thomas Sowell is a significant work that explores the fundamental differences in how people perceive human nature and society. Here's a review of the book:Key Concepts:1. Constrained vs. Unconstrained Visions:Sowell argues that most political and ideological disagreements stem from two fundamentally different visions of human nature:- The Constrained Vision (or "Tragic Vision"): Views human nature as inherently limited, flawed, and unchanging. It emphasizes the importance of incentives, trade-offs, and the accumulated wisdom of traditions.- The Unconstrained Vision (or "Utopian Vision"): Sees human nature as more malleable and perfectible. It emphasizes the power of reason to solve social problems and the potential for dramatic societal improvements.2. Application to Political Ideologies:Sowell relates these visions to political ideologies, generally associating the constrained vision with conservatism and classical liberalism, and the unconstrained vision with modern liberalism and progressivism.3. Historical Context:The book traces these visions through history, examining how they've influenced thinkers from Adam Smith to William Godwin, and how they continue to shape modern political discourse.Strengths of the Book:1. Analytical Framework: Sowell provides a unique lens through which to understand political disagreements, going beyond surface-level policy disputes to examine underlying assumptions.2. Interdisciplinary Approach: The book draws from philosophy, economics, political science, and history, offering a comprehensive analysis.3. Clarity of Exposition: Despite dealing with complex ideas, Sowell's writing is clear and accessible.Criticisms:1. Potential Oversimplification: Some critics argue that the binary framework of constrained and unconstrained visions is too simplistic to capture the full spectrum of political thought.2. Perceived Bias: Some readers feel that Sowell, known for his conservative leanings, presents the constrained vision more favorably.3. Limited Update: While the book has been revised, some argue it doesn't fully address how these visions have evolved in the face of 21st-century challenges.Impact:"A Conflict of Visions" is considered one of Sowell's most important theoretical works. It has been influential in political science and continues to be referenced in discussions about the roots of ideological differences.Overall, the book offers a thought-provoking framework for understanding political disagreements, encouraging readers to examine the underlying assumptions that drive different political perspectives. Whether one agrees with Sowell's analysis or not, the book provides valuable insights into the nature of political and ideological conflicts.