conservatism

Question 1

when did traditional conservatism emerge?

Answer 1

as a reaction to the enlightenment i the 18th century

Question 2

traditional- what was hobbes’s view on human nature?

Answer 2

• humans are morally imperfect (selfish creatures motivated by base impulses)
• intellectually imperfect (rationality is beyond rational understanding)
• psychologically imperfect- humans are driven by security and rely on tradition and culture for identity

human imperfect cannot be avoided as humans desire power and material gratification
the ‘state of nature was society before the emergence of a state and life was a never-ending the conflict there would be violent anarchy and life would be ‘nasty, brutish and short’

HOWEVER, DOESNT THINK HUMANS ARE WHOLLY IRRATIONAL

Question 3

traditional- what is hobbe’s social contract

Answer 3

humans are rational enough to seek order by social contract where individuals give up freedoms to an all-powerful sovereign in return the sovereign grants legal and physical protection

society cannot exist before the creation of a state

Question 4

traditional- burkes differing view of human imperfection

Answer 4

• did not think humans were ruthlessly individualistic, they are naturally communal, as their imperfections compel them to band together
• agrees with hobbies that humans are capable of making mistakes but not to the same distinctive level
• change should be cautious and empirically considered

Question 5

traditional- burkes views on ‘changing to conserve’

Answer 5

the organic society isn’t static and it much changes to converse, guided by history, pragmatism, and all above empiricism

uses french revolution that used abstract ideas to change which ended up as violent chaos

Question 6

traditional- what did oakshott believe about human nature and society

Answer 6

more aligned with Oakeshott than Hobbes

• humans are ‘fragile and fallible but are capable of benevolence.
• like burke argues that society is organic consisting of customs and traditions that provide consolation
• perfection cannot be made by the imperfect

Question 7

oakshotts argument for the ‘politics of faith’

Answer 7

• making decisions based on rationalism instead of empiricism is flawed
• implementation of abstract ideas (rationalism) leads to negative consequences

Question 8

what is empiricism

Answer 8

making decisions based of past experiences and history

Question 9

what is rationalism

Answer 9

if the state subscribes to rationalism it makes decisions informed from abstract information

Question 10

traditional- view on organic society/ state

Answer 10

• Hobbes believes that society is not created but emerges and grows organically.
• individual rights are dependant on law and only the state has the authority to give individual rights
• Hobbes believed in absolute monarchy whereas more modern conservatives burke and Oakeshott favored ideas that limit the power of the monarch and establish parliamentary sovereignty
• organic state with its history and tradition sin vital in informing the past and present

Question 11

traditional- how to maintain society

Answer 11

using burke’s idea of changing to conserve the ancient institutions of the state shouldn’t be tampered with but if there are defects which harm the working of the organic society they must be abandoned

inaction can cause the death of a state

Question 12

traditional- the principle of an unequal society

Answer 12

• Hobbes- society was to be ruled by an absolute monarch governing a ‘commonwealth’ arranged by rank and influence
• burke- aristocracy should lead as they are wiser than their inferiours
• Oakeshott- tradition to preserve institutions like the house of lords

Question 13

what is nobelles oblige

Answer 13

the duty of the society’s elite, wealthy and privilege to look after those less fortunate

Question 14

what is pragmatism and why is it important to conservatism

Answer 14

• rejection of making decisions based on ideology but rather by empiricism
• pragmatists week a ‘workable consensus based on traditions on society
• one national thought focuses on achieving social harmony even if that means accepting greater government involvement
• new right reject many pragmatic principles of traditional conservatism as they have a clear ideology their take a more rational than empirical approach

Question 15

why is tradition so important to conservative ideology

Answer 15

• important because the accumulated wisdom of the past mean that institutions are fit for purpose and should be preserved
• tradition provided a sense of belonging
• burke: religion was one of the ‘great sources of civilization’ therefore athesim should be suppressed as its destabilising to the organic society

Question 16

what is paternalism and why is it important to conservatism

Answer 16

• the idea of government by people who are best equipped to lead by virtue of their birth, inheritance, and upbringing
• burke argued for the ‘natural aristocracy’ presides over society like a father did over his family
• skills can’t be obtain through hard work or self-improvment leadership is based on inate ability
• traced back to prime minister disreali who warned that britian was diving into two nations the rich and poor so the rich had a social obligation look after less fortunate
• adopted by macmaillan’s mixed economy

Question 17

what is libertariansim

Answer 17

philosophy advocating for negative freedom and minimal state intervention known as neo-liberals and represents part of what makes up the new right ideology

• laissex faire economics

Question 18

rand on libertariansim

Answer 18

• society is atomistic so is made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals
• atomistic individualism is where autonomous individuals seek rationalized self-fulfillment
• society doesn’t exist we are a loose collection of independent beings
• egoistic individualism (rights of the individual more important than the state)
• paternalism of noblesse oblige restricts development
• society should be organised meritcratically and not based on the position you were borninto
• nightwatchman state

Question 19

nozick on libertarainsim

Answer 19

• ‘tax, for the most part, it theft’

- state encroaches on the lives of citizens and wearing creates a dependency culture

Question 20

what do neo-liberals want

Answer 20

• deregulation and privatization of services
• individuals to be ‘left alone by the state in economic and social terms
• Nozick and rand agree that the growth of the state is the greatest contemporary threat to individual freedom

Question 21

early one nation conservatism

Answer 21

• mass industrialisation fammned flames of anarchism and socilaism
• disreali drew from burkes ideas of hierarchal aristocracy however wanted to change the two nations that Britain was becoming
• made the representation of the people 1867 reform enfranchising large parts of the urban male working-class reform was ended for social stability
  ‘changing to conserve

Question 22

coherent views on economy

Answer 22

all beleive that capitalism should be retained and none think that is should be removed

all believe that private property s key to protect psycological security despecially during recessions

all beleive that private property defends against reliance on the state

Question 23

who said trustee model

Answer 23

burke

Question 24

who said humans are capable of objecitivsm

Answer 24

ryand

Question 25

ryand on peoples personal life

Answer 25

no restictions should be placed on abortion and stuff as people are capable of policing thier own morality

Question 26

who said that people need to be ‘left alone’

Answer 26

nozik