CONSERVATISM Flashcards

1
Q

core conservative view on human nature

A
  • human nature is frail and fallible
  • ‘philosophy of imperfection’
  • Hobbes said without the restraints of formal authority relations between human beings would be bad and life was ‘nasty brutish and short’
  • human nature driven by self interest
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2
Q

what were thomas hobbes’ beliefs

A
  • humans were needy and vulnerable
  • before the state there was no voluntary arrangements between individuals & therefore no liberal ‘natural rights’
  • human life is ‘nasty, brutish, and short’
  • each man’s versions of right and wrong is different so it would lead to war
  • argued that a ‘sovereign’ would make laws (the state) and would be autocratic so no powers would be dispersed
  • without a state there would be no civil society
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3
Q

core conservative belief of society

A
  • localism: unlike atomistic individuals (liberalism) they see ‘little platoons’ (burke) where the communities provide their individuals with security
  • organicism: society emerges gradually like a plant unlike liberals who see mankind as the masters of our fate.
  • empiricism: ‘evidence over theory’ unlike normative view in socialism/liberalism which priotitise what ought to be. e.g. oakeshott ~ conservative society is oen that strives to stay afloat in uncertain waters not sail
  • tradition: customs and habits provide security. change should come slow not drastic.
  • hierarchy:inequalities within human nature lead to an unequal society with a hierarchy. but those in power need to be paternalistic.
  • judaeo-christian morality: stronger attachment to religion, e.g. strong emphasis on marriage and being responsible for actions
  • property: property is inherited, providing stability in a shaky world. property owership promotes an incentive for paternalism (look after those without property) and thereby maintain existing society.
  • new right’s overall analysis of society values individual liberty but in line with traditional cons in that hierarchy is important
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4
Q

core conservative view on the state

A
  • order & authority: disciplinary function with security and authority. the state precedes society. no order and liberty unless there are clear laws backed by authority.
  • organic origins: more supportive of uncofidied constituions since state should arise organically with a pragmatic response to humanitys needs
  • ruling class: endorse elitist society that has heriditary power. the state would legislate whenever new laws are necessary to show order and social cohesion.
  • nation-state: state and nation is intertwined which is why monarchs/presidents/constitutions are important. new right (Nozick & Rand) say to strengthen the nation state we should ‘roll back the frontiers’ because if the nation-state is burdened by nationalised industries & welfare states it’s harder to focus on order and security
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5
Q

core conservative views on the economy

A
  • favour capitalism
  • Burke supported adam smith (father of laissez faire economics)
  • traditional conservatives are sceptical of capitalism since it requires an optimistic view of market forces so support moderated capitalism where free markets are tempered with state intervention
  • trads were drawn to keynesian capitalism whereby the state managed market forces in the interests of full employment
  • new right gov of thatcher aimed to free the economy through privatisation
  • new right has alignment with trads arguing that disengaging from the economy means funding on security/armed forces
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6
Q

traditional conservatism

A
  • arose from the French Revolution
  • ## ‘change to conserve’: e.g. george canning championed the abolition of slavery, arguing that it brought property owenrship into disrepute
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7
Q

traditional thinkers

A

edmund burke,

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8
Q

what did edmund burke think

A
  • father of conservatism
  • mankind was fallible - more likely to fail than succeed
  • change should proced based on fact and experience
  • government is more like a plant than a machine so change must be cautious and organic
  • belived that organic societies always have an elite which had an obligation to govern in the interests for all
  • society of ‘little platoons’
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