Conservatism Flashcards
All socialists on human nature
self interested
imperfect and fallible
selfish and individualistic
all socialists disagree on human nature
if they are rational or not
Hobbes on human nature
extremely negative views
selfish humans are individualistically driven by self interest
cynical view - restless and ruthless
irrational and limited at best
Burke on human nature
somewhat negative
humans are morally and intellectually fallible
irrational
imperfect but imperfection isn’t permanent (strive to do well)
Oakeshott on human nature
somewhat negative (imperfect and irrational)
focused on intellectual imperfection
decisions should be grounded in empiricism
modest (free from design)
focus on everyday life
Rand on human nature
positive
humans are capable of rational thought and should be objectivist in pursuing self interest
humans are selfish in a good way
focus on individual freedom
Nozick on human nature
positive
individuals are rational and driven by the idea of self ownership of their talent, abilities and labour
all conservatives on the state
state is necessary in some form
rule of law
individual rights
conservatives disagreements on the state
the extent of the state
(whether it is authoritative (Traditional) or minimum authority (neo liberal))
Hobbes on the state
The state arises from a social contract between the sovereign and subjects
Subjects cede freedoms to an autocratic monarch and to guarantee the rule of law and to avoid a state of war
Burke on the state
The state emerges and grows like an organism (organic society)
Hierarchical in nature, the hereditary elite rules with noblesse oblige for the interests of all
The state should change to conserve, a society guided by empiricism
Oakeshott on the state
The state should be guided by tradition and experience.
Sceptical of rationalist state action
Change, if it must occur, should be guided by empiricism and pragamatism
Rand on the state
the state should play a minimal role in the life of the individual to allow people to act in self interest/individualistically
the state should secure a free market, law and order and national security
Nozick on the state
a minarchist state: the state should be limited to law and order, enforcement of contract and defence of the realm
state should outsource to private contracts to provide public services (help economy and protect capitalism)
all conservatives on society
recognise that there’s a concept of society
Hobbes on society
society didn’t exist before the creation of the state
the sovereign brings order and authority
before the creation of the state, life was ‘nasty brutish and short’
Burke on society
Society is like a multifaceted organism
communities, traditions, customs etc have a symbiotic relationship
Oakeshott on society
Society is like a multifaceted organism
communities, traditions, customs etc have a symbiotic relationship
Rand on society
society pursues atomistic individualism. a collection of autonomous individuals motivated by self fulfilment. These individuals resist state and societal obligations as they restrict individual freedom
no welfare state
Nozick on society
Society is essentially atomistic
a collection of autonomous individuals with libertarian values. these individuals resist state or societal obligations as they restrict individual freedom
no welfare state
all conservatives on the economy
all agree on capitalism and a laissez faire economy
Hobbes on the economy
economy activity is only possible after the creation of the state (so sovereign is necessary)
the sovereign brings order and authority allowing the economy to develop
Burke on the economy
the free market is the natural organic state of the market and the state should protect laissez faire capitalism
guide lines from government
Oakeshott on the economy
the free market is the natural state of the market. State involvement should be limited to pragmatic moderation. State management or economic policies underpinned by rationalism should be avoided because of intellectual imperfection
focus on empiricism
Nozick on the economy
A minarchist state will be one of the free market capitalism with a privatised and deregulated economy
tax is theft
Rand on the economy
free market capitalism with no state intervention and a privatised and deregulated economy
no welfare state
hierarchy
the conservative belief that society is naturally organised in fixed tiers, where one’s position is not based on individual ability
authority
for conservatives, this is the idea that people in higher positions in society are best able to make decisions in the interests of the whole society; authority thus comes from above
change to conserve
the idea that society should adapt to changing circumstances rather than reject change outright and risk rebellion/revolution
atomism
that society is made up of self interested and self sufficient individuals (aka egotistical individualism)
noblesse oblige
the duty of the wealthy and privileged to look after those less fortunate
anti permissiveness
a rejection of permissiveness, which is the belief that people should make their own moral choices, suggesting there is no objective right and wrong
radical
belief whose ideas favour drastic political, economic and social change
human imperfection
the traditional conservative belief that humans are flawed in a number of ways which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves
laissez faire
a preference towards minimal government intervention in business and the state
empiricism
the idea that knowledge comes from real experience and not abstract theories
pragmatism
core value of conservatism
they are informed by empiricism and have a deep distrust of the abstract theories favoured by political ideas such as liberalism and socialism
tradition
values, practices or institutions that have endured through time and in particular, been passed down from one generation to the next
organicism
belief that society operates like an organism/living entity, the whole being more than a collection of its individual parts
traditional conservatives on paternalism
noblesse oblige
commitment to hierarchal and paternalistic values (natural state of order)
one nation conservatives on paternalism
french revolution
Theresa may/Macmillan
prevent revolution by help from rich. updating traditional conservatism in response to the emergence of capitalism
new right on paternalism
traditional and radical libertarianism and social authoritarianism
free market, atomistic individualism - mix of neoliberal and neoconservative
tough on law and order, public morality
welfare state (somewhat)
caroline nokes
minarchist
someone who believes that the state should only exist for the purpose of maintaining law and order
libertarianism
a political philosophy that emphasises negative freedom and advocates minimal state intervention
early one nation policies and ideas
laissez faire social + economic policy
noblesse oblige
nationalism based on organicism
representation of the people act 1867
artisan’s dwellings act 1857
later one nation policies and ideas
property owning democracy
preservation of society
rationalistic ideas of Keynes
social liberalism
life peerage act 1958
since 1970 - homosexuality and abortion legalised - Marriage Act 2013
practical vs moral argument for helping working class
practical - stop a revolution of the poor. they won’t just accept misery
moral - wealth and privilege brings social obligations with responsibility for the poor
