If you look at wikipedia it says that Generally, the left-wing is characterized by an emphasis on "ideas such as freedom, equality, fraternity, rights, progress, reform and internationalism" while the right-wing is characterized by an emphasis on "notions such as authority, hierarchy, order, duty, tradition, reaction and nationalism".
It seems such as that Left Wing involves a big government but is for equality and protecting the environment, and slowly getting better as a civilisation, whereas the right wing believes that the civilisation is already fine as it is and seeks to uphold that. But I may be biased.