{"id":1264,"date":"2026-08-11T06:23:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T12:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/?p=1264"},"modified":"2026-07-19T15:44:53","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T21:44:53","slug":"conflict-of-visions-a-book-review-part-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/08\/11\/conflict-of-visions-a-book-review-part-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Conflict of Visions: A Book Review- Part III"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2><em>The Unconstrained and Constrained Visions of Freedom and Justice<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/conflict-visions-pic-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1265\" width=\"338\" height=\"503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/conflict-visions-pic-2.png 380w, https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/conflict-visions-pic-2-201x300.png 201w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/08\/11\/conflict-of-visions-a-book-review-part-iii\/\">Conflict of Visions: A Book Review- Part III<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/08\/04\/conflict-of-visions-a-book-review-part-ii\/\">Conflict of Visions: A Book Review- Part II<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/07\/28\/conflict-of-visions-a-book-review-part-i\/\">Conflict of Visions: A Book Review- Part I<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/07\/21\/collectivism-vs-community\/\">Collectivism vs. Community<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/07\/14\/testify-to-what\/\">Testify to What?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This a three-part series on \u201c<\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Conflict-Visions-Ideological-Political-Struggles\/dp\/0465002056\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2UI2QIHNJCCYP&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.k2KxyVHpxEOmJ7XA1VDwZwAo8iAC6sBnQx4uPh1rwn5lWhraeQ9ZCfH58xdGEW38wU3D2GimuPdZfKWkdJ2ZWsaQf8rHk8aNDcREzAH8MNqilIxeRjPMhW_f8J4wZGy8VSKYheli5cDerUVfmeGi22UcujNh-2ZhNXD6dpW00TAVkEC1sUmHukcbBuqZfTQ-JbGP2eJ25GOxyeLmhW_dHy6nWdIBM37WxrRKkHpIWIQ.waGTOBNF3byDoQzUBr5Xz-9gdsRWZd7hIbtsJFaLpBM&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=conflict+of+visions&amp;qid=1779668751&amp;sprefix=conflict%2Caps%2C218&amp;sr=8-1\"><em>Conflict of Visions<\/em><\/a><em>\u201d by Thomas Sowell. It is split into the following categories of the way in which the <\/em><strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong><em> vision and the <\/em><strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong><em> view these subjects:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Part I: Human nature, Knowledge and Reason<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Part II: Social Processes, Equality, Power<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Part III: Freedom, Justice<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>In this conclusion to the series, freedom and justice are viewed quite differently, depending on who you\u2019re asking. While these concepts seem axiomatic, as you are about to see, when viewed through the lens of the unconstrained and constrained visions, they appear to be very different <em>Forms<\/em>, as Plato might put it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Freedom<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, individualism means to participate in the articulated decisions of collective entities while some with supreme wisdom possess exception from systemic or organized social restraints, like military service, or even laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sowell articulated the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision this way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\u201cIndividualism means leaving the individual free to choose among the systematically generated opportunities, rewards, and penalties derived from other similarly free individuals without being subjected to articulated conclusions imposed by the power of organized entities such as government.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, knowledge, wisdom, and virtue are derivations from the masses, and because so, the most an individual can expect is to be left free to choose among the various rewards and penalties emerging from systemic social processes without exemption from any of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Justice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Justice involves the attempt to change people\u2019s motives, leaving incentives less important. This, according to the <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, is an attempt towards a solution. Justice involves the mitigation of the breakdown of order. This, according to the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, is a trade-off because those in the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision are aware of inherent human limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To the <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, justice is the conclusion of fairness and equality of results. Morality within justice is equal rights to the results. To the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, justice is the restriction on others to impede the process, making all processes equal. Morality within justice is equal rights to the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Both visions are concerned with social results. The limitations of man are at the heart of the theory of the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, while the potential of human nature is at the heart of the <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision seeks social results through collective decisions prescribing desired outcomes. The <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision believes it is beyond man\u2019s capability to manage such vast knowledge and is dangerous to concentrate such power to make decisions, even if it were possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision sees degrees of freedom as that which produce desired results. This is also true with justice through outcomes, power through control of one group over another, and equality being desired results having been achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision sees these entities quite differently. The characteristics of processes defined to restrict malevolent nature, whether it be freedom, justice, power, or equality, such processes have significance. A social process has freedom so far as it refrains from interfering with choices of individuals. A social process of justice ensures laws are just. A social process of equality means everyone abides by the same rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While results matter to the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, the general effectiveness of processes are the barometer for success and not measured by each individual result in isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, the moral and intellectual elite failing is preposterous and damning. To those with the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, failure is no surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, their adversaries are referred to as \u201cwell-meaning.\u201d To the <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, they are a \u201cmoral outrage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, surrogate decision makers are best qualified to speak on our behalf. Such knowledge is consolidated. In the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, knowledge is inadequately possessed compared to knowledge systemically and collectively mobilized through free markets, values, and social processes. Thus the reason for restricting surrogate decisions makers\u2019 power to rule over the discretion of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thomas Sowell concluded his book by making this bold statement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\u201cWhile visions conflict, and arouse strong emotions in the process, merely \u2018winning\u2019 cannot be the ultimate goal of either the <strong><em>constrained<\/em><\/strong> or the <strong><em>unconstrained<\/em><\/strong> vision, however much that goal may preoccupy practical politicians. The moral impulse driving each vision cannot be jettisoned for the sake of winning, without making the victory meaningless.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Sowell is calling for truth, compromise, and agreeing to disagree with the mass being represented in mind. Though there is a conflict of visions, there does not have to be a conflict of social prosperity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stay Classy GP!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grainger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Unconstrained and Constrained Visions of Freedom and Justice This a three-part series on \u201cConflict of Visions\u201d by Thomas Sowell. It is split into the following categories of the way in which the unconstrained vision and the constrained view these subjects: Part I: Human nature, Knowledge and Reason Part II: Social Processes, Equality, Power Part &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/08\/11\/conflict-of-visions-a-book-review-part-iii\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Conflict of Visions: A Book Review- Part III&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0},"categories":[72,6,4,5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1264"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1266,"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1264\/revisions\/1266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}