TED talk by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, where he examines the cornerstones of morality.
turns out there are 5...
- An antipathy to harm of others
- Sense of fairness/reciprocity
- Loyalty to your group
- Respect for authority
- Desire for purity/sanctity
In terms of perceived importance, liberals tend to score highly on the first two and low on the others, whereas conservatives score similarly on each (tho lower than liberals on 'harm' and 'fairness' measures).
Although, even here 'perceived' is the important word - liberals may disagree with conservatives on 'purity' when it comes to sexual morality, but might consider it very important when it comes to food for instance.
Unsurprisingly tho, it is in the areas of loyalty, authority and purity that most moral disagreements and debates happen.
But Haidt's argument is that these different moral priorities are neither right or wrong, they are simply different. And that it is only in recognising these different priorities, rather than demonising them, that constructive dialogue and progress can happen.
