What are the core beliefs of the moderates?

Answer 1

Moderates basically hold there is truth and falsehood on both sides. (Which, humans being human, is inevitable.) Moderates seem inclined to believe they are able to sift the two sides of an argument and the result is more truth than falsehood. How they came by this gift is a mystery.

Boiled down to the molecular level Moderates are either pragmatist, ie what ever works is true or Moral Relativists, ie each situation has a true answer unique to the relationship of all its parts.

Pragmatism has a strong following in the US where the, just get the job done! Philosophy still has much influence. This philosophy was founded by C.S Pierce & William James.

Relativism is more popular in the east where it is usually subsumed into Zen or Taoism depending on geography.

In the US Moderates also labeled Centrists are usually self described pragmatists.

Moderates tend to believe both sides want to go the same place but simply disagree as to how to get there.

In fact a careful examination will demonstrate that both sides very definitely want to go different places and disagreements as to the best way to accomplish this goal are mostly within their own group.

Both extremes see moderates as weak and unlikely to get things done. While moderates see themselves as the bridge between extremes.

It is interesting to note that the most pragmatic, "just get the job done" philosophy is held in contempt by both extremes. In fact often the only thing they can agree on is how useless moderates are.