The Pournelle vs. Nolan Chart: Political Throwdown

http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=2265 ^ | William M. Briggs

[mattstat]

Before Jerry Pournelle began writing science fiction; before, that is, he teamed with Larry Niven to write the classic Lucifer’s Hammer1, he was a political scientist.

Pournelle was dissatisfied with the traditional Left-Right distinction. One variable describing such a complex situation “produces political absurdities.” Just because one is not of the Left does not mean that he is of the Right. At least, not in the way the “Right” is usually meant.

Even two dimensions is not enough to capture the subtleties of any person’s beliefs. There are people calling themselves Catholics who support abortion, for instance. Just as there are others who are against capital punishment but who advocate guns for personal protection (I’m thinking of radio host and radical lawyer Ron Kuby).

Politician David Nolan came to the same conclusion as Pournelle: one dimension is not enough to describe political affiliation.

Both gentlemen produced a two-dimensional chart in an attempt to move away from the simplistic. Nolan’s first:...

[ConservativeMind]

I have always loved Jerry’s work.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I like Pournelle’s chart....