CONSERVATISM

Question 1

core conservative view on human nature

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

what were thomas hobbes’ beliefs

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

core conservative belief of society

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

core conservative view on the state

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

core conservative views on the economy

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

traditional conservatism

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

traditional thinkers

Answer 7

edmund burke,

Question 8

what did edmund burke think

Answer 8

• 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’