Of Liberals, Horse Whisperers, and Human Nature

By now the lesson should have sunk in. The examples set by the horse and dog whisperers should have entered the liberal consciousness, but have not Although the model provided by these animal trainers is much admired in liberal circles, its insights are not applied to human beings.
The horse whisperers, for instance, counsel that horses are prey animals. As such, they are hard-wired to be alert to potential predators. This means that a trainer must avoid looking directly at a horse’s eyes lest he be confused with a wolf. Dog whisperers similarly advise that dogs are pack animals and hence dog owners should set themselves up as pack leaders.
Both of these sorts of trainers understand that their subjects are particular sorts of animal. They know that they are genetically programmed to exhibit certain behaviors, but not others. As a result, they operate within these limits.
Liberals, in contrast, seem to imagine that people are completely plastic. Therefore, when they recommend political or economic reforms, they let their imaginations run wild. As long as they can conceive of a particular social program, they assume they can impose it.
Thus, they think they can oblige everyone to love everyone else. They also believe they can impose complete equality. Both of these goals are parts of the Liberal Dream; nonetheless both are contrary to human nature.
And there is a human nature. Violate it and no matter how elevated an ambition, it cannot be realized. As a consequence, promises to implement the impossible eventually fall to the ground unfulfilled. Having aroused unsustainable hopes, they breed cynicism not contentment.
This scenario also applies to another aspect of the Liberal Dream. Liberals believe that once they establish universal love and complete equality, people will be able to flourish as never before. They will become “self-actualizing” individuals who personally achieve their highest aspirations.
This philosophy as infiltrated public education systems to such an extent that they produce ever more ignorant graduates. According to progressive education (i.e., liberal education), learning must always be fun. Students must be allowed to choose what they want to learn, while teachers must encourage them to be their highest selves.
This sounds like it allows students to be themselves, whereas it merely permits them to remain uninformed. We human beings are biologically programmed to learn; including many very difficult lessons. This means that working hard is also part of our nature.
Indeed, one of the things that separates us from other animals is the length of our childhoods. These extend for many years because there is so much to be soaked up. Part of this, it is true, is learned through play, but part must be acquired by conscious effort.
Nowadays, with the emphasis on play, too many students refuse to read books if they are difficult. They would rather engage in computer games or go on FaceBook.
Accordingly, the self they actualize is simpleminded and incompetent. They never become the self-motivated experts required by a techno-commercial society because it has falsely been assumed that learning and personal growth are automatic.
A modern middle class society depends on personal responsibility, but a sense of responsibility takes effort to develop. This is dictated by the ways our minds and emotions work. Human nature is such that we can create the complex behavioral repertoires upon which we rely only dedicating many years to doing so.
One more reason the Liberal Dream is dying is thus that it does not acknowledge this simple fact. It takes for granted that people will inevitably become what they must in order to sustain our current prosperity, this is, if the proper social conditions are provided.
This is wrong on two counts. First, liberals cannot furnish the love and equality they promise. And second, even it they could, responsible competence takes years of genuine effort to achieve.
Melvyn L. Fein. Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Kennesaw State University