conservatism Flashcards
when did traditional conservatism emerge?
as a reaction to the enlightenment i the 18th century
traditional- what was hobbes’s view on human nature?
- 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
traditional- what is hobbe’s social contract
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
traditional- burkes differing view of human imperfection
- 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
traditional- burkes views on ‘changing to conserve’
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
traditional- what did oakshott believe about human nature and society
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
oakshotts argument for the ‘politics of faith’
- making decisions based on rationalism instead of empiricism is flawed
- implementation of abstract ideas (rationalism) leads to negative consequences
what is empiricism
making decisions based of past experiences and history
what is rationalism
if the state subscribes to rationalism it makes decisions informed from abstract information
traditional- view on organic society/ state
- 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
traditional- how to maintain society
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
traditional- the principle of an unequal society
- 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
what is nobelles oblige
the duty of the society’s elite, wealthy and privilege to look after those less fortunate
what is pragmatism and why is it important to conservatism
- 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
why is tradition so important to conservative ideology
- 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
what is paternalism and why is it important to conservatism
- 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
what is libertariansim
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
rand on libertariansim
- 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
nozick on libertarainsim
- ‘tax, for the most part, it theft’
- state encroaches on the lives of citizens and wearing creates a dependency culture
what do neo-liberals want
- 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
early one nation conservatism
- 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
coherent views on economy
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
who said trustee model
burke
who said humans are capable of objecitivsm
ryand
ryand on peoples personal life
no restictions should be placed on abortion and stuff as people are capable of policing thier own morality
who said that people need to be ‘left alone’
nozik
