Conservatism Flashcards
Pragmatism examples
- Under Margaret Thatcher, the Conservatives proposed a poll tax - something that John Major (a more one-nation conservative) saw as being not a pragmatic decision and was replaced with the Council Tax.
- David Cameron’s Conservative Party changed its policies based on coalition compromises between 2010 and 2015. (Gay Marriage, Equality Act 2010)
- Furlough 2020
Burke on tradition
Because of human imperfection, we cannot just create a new society - we should listen to the lessons and teachings of the past and society should evolve organically to meet current needs.
Psychological imperfection
Humans are not necessarily rational, instead, we behave in ways that are familiar and comforting, rather than things that may be better for us.
Moral imperfection
Humans have flawed characters and therefore cannot always act rationally or perfectly.
Intellectual imperfection
Human rationality is imperfect and unreliable, and the world around us is more complicated than our intellects are able to comprehend.
Change to conserve examples
- Furlough 2020
- Gay marriage 2010
- Energy bill support and 30hrs free childcare 2023
Succession laws + change to conserve
In the 21st century, David Cameron changed succession rules to the throne, allowing female heirs to be recognised for the first time.
This reflects present-day attitudes to gender but also meant that the institution of the monarchy remained important in British life.
Hierarchy
Society is based on fixed tiers, not on
individual ability
Authority
Those in higher positions are best
placed to make decisions
Change to conserve
Authorities should adapt, rather
than risk revolution
Atomism
Society is made up of self-interest
and self-sufficient individuals
Noblesse Oblige
Duty of the wealthy to look after
those less fortunate
Anti-permissiveness
People make their own choices,
there is no objective right or wrong
Radical
Belief whose ideas favour drastic
change
Laissez-faire
Minimal government involvement in
the economy and state
empiricism
Change from experience and
evidence (do what already works)
gradualism
Change should happen over time
and slowly develop
libertarianism
An extension of laissez-faire where
there are as few regulations as
possible
Egotistical individualism
Individual freedom is based in
self-interest
Dependency culture
Too generous benefits will become
a disincentive to work
One-nation conservatism
People should encourage cohesion
and unity in the country. State takes a paternal role.
New Right
neo-liberal: principally concerned with
free-market economics and atomistic individualism and neo-conservative: principally concerned with the fear of social fragmentation, tough on law and order and public morality.
Oakeshott (state)
“To be conservative is to prefer the tried to the untried, the familiar to the unknown” (Fixed state)
“In a kitchen, cookbooks are only useful after experience of preparing the meal” (Fixed state)
Rather than brutish and short, our lives in the state of nature would be “noisy, foolish and flawed”
“Men sail on a boundless and bottomless sea” state keeps them afloat and does not reach a specific destination. (Flexible state)
Hobbes - fixed state
“Life in the state of nature would be nasty, brutish and short”
