Moral Foundations Theory

Why do the left and right differ politically?

From Jonathan Haidt's The Righteous Mind

Liberals

Conservatives

The Six Foundations

Haidt proposes that humans have six innate moral foundations. While everyone has all six, liberals and conservatives weight them differently. Click a foundation to learn more.

The Six Foundations

Care

Harm

Fairness

Cheating

Liberty

Oppression

Betrayal

Loyalty

Subversion

Authority

Degradation

Sanctity

Key Insight

Liberals rely primarily on Care, Fairness, and Liberty. Conservatives use all six foundations more equally. This explains why they often talk past each other - they're using different moral languages.

Why It Matters

Neither side is irrational. Both perspectives are grounded in real moral values - they just prioritize different foundations.