Vincent J. Curtis
14 Aug 2016
In the main post of yesterday, I mentioned the difference
between logical reasoning and practical reasoning. Let’s apply that analysis of the two kinds of
reasoning to Trump’s candidacy, and we’ll find out why he is fanatically loved
by a segment of the population.
The process of logical reasoning leads to a judgement about
the truth, falsity, or likelihood of a proposition. “Is this true, false, or probable?” is the
question addressed by logical reasoning.
Practical reasoning, on the other hand, is based upon appetite; what a
person desires is the basis of practical reasoning. Practical reasoning leads to a decision about
what to do. Logical reasoning may be
useful in the process of practical reasoning for helping assess the means of
attaining the goal set by practical reasoning.
But the two processes are fundamentally different. A good decision in practical reasoning is one
that is in accordance with right desire.
Hillary is motivated by greed and a desire for the applause
of the progressivist-liberal wing of the electorate. At this point in her career, the applause is
a means for the furtherance of greed, for without the applause she would not
gain the high office she needs to further her greed. Hillary endorses a boiler-plate version of
progressivist-liberalism as the means of gaining the applause of that segment
of the population that believes in it.
And beauty of Hillary’s approach is that none of it needs to be
fulfilled; she can always blame her political opponents for thwarting the
program.
Trump has a completely different set of motives. He has made his money, and has turned over
his businesses to his children. Over his
forty year career in construction and property management, he has developed a
set of skills that he thinks can advance the cause of America. He wants to make America great again.
With nothing left to accomplish in a business career, Trump
is turning to a final project: to apply his skills to solve the problems he
sees America suffering from. Is this pursuit
of office a kind of ego gratification? Undoubtedly,
it is, but this is not out of keeping with right
desire. Trump is not running for
office merely for ego gratification, but so that he can apply himself to making
America great again. That is a right desire.
One may disagree with specific elements of his program, one
can hold that this or that element or policy measure will not make America
great again, but this amounts to a discussion about means, not the end. Hillary’s program is not about making
America great again, but about satisfying the desires of some at the expense of
others. Raising tax rates on the rich to
deliver free stuff for the middle class, and of gratifying “minority” groups at
the expense of white working class men – this is Hillary’s program.
Conservatives have practically abandoned Trump because of
apparent inconsistencies in his proposals, and of his self-contradictions. Trump is too erratic for them. Trump may be well-intended, but his means are
not clear; and to the extent that they are clear, they are not entirely in
keeping with a conservative program. By
ignoring his right desire conservatives
are missing the forest for all the trees.
What is common between conservatives and Trump is the right desire for a renewal of America’s
greatness.
Trump speaks to crowds of 15,000 at a time, sometimes twice
a day. The crowds are entertained by
him. They like his flippant style and
the way he savages his political opponents, who are also the opponents of those
in the crowd. Trump and the crowd are motivated
by the same desire, to bring about in America the conditions that will improve
their lot in this life. Trump means to
be their champion. Trump isn’t in it for
himself, but because he is big enough to fight on their behalf and, if given
the chance, to make America better for everyone. Yes, there is a lot of human person wrapped around
that basic theme, but it is the theme that makes the crowd support Trump and
not just enjoy being entertained by him.
There is no guile in Trump when he is before the crowd. The crowd sees a real man, offering himself
for the benefit of America. They see
that he is rightly motivated, and has their interests in mind. He shares their views and says things that
they secretly believed themselves.
Great are the interests opposed to Trump. Vested interests, that Trump promises to
smash if elected. Hillary’s lack of
right desire and her corrosive email scandals promise to destroy her
campaign. She cannot advance her cause
herself. At this point in the campaign, Trump,
to advance his own cause, needs to get all that personality out of the way and show his right desire.
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