Conservatism Flashcards
What are the core ideas of conservatives on human nature
Human nature
- all human beings are imperfect and unperfectable
- they are psychologically limited, meaning that they fear instability and isolation, and seek the comfort of the family, and having a sense of belonging
- consequently, this is the basis of conservative views on social order in contrast with liberty - order ensures that life is predictable, while liberty can create uncertainty and change, which conservatives believe individuals fear.
- Hobbes - liberty should be sacrificed for social order
- humans are morally imperfect - ultimately, humans are innately selfish and greedy, therefore the only way in which they can be stopped from these urges is by having a strong justice system which punishes anti-social impulses, and which enforced enough to prevent crime happening
- humans are intellectually limited - conservatives believe that humans fail to fully understand and grasp complex issues, such as to do with radical change. Therefore, this influences their ideas on tradition, experience and history, by adopting rules which have proven themselves to be the best through the evolution they have gone through history up until the present day (sort of natural selection)
- Consequently, a cautious approach to change, and for the better part, the adherence to tradition, is needed
What are the core ideas of conservatives on society
Society
- humans innate characteristics, as being dependent and security-seeking, means that they cannot exist outside of society
- social conservatism - the belief that society is the combination of a fragile network of relationships, in which individuals are dependent on each other for support, love, advice
- rights and responsibilities - in society, all humans have certain rights, but also certain responsibilities to their families and friends. These social obligations help to keep society together
- organicism - the conservative belief that society operates like an organism. The whole of society is more than just the sum of its individual parts, because, unlike what liberals think, the bonds between individuals are the essence of society. the different parts of society work together as an organism - this metaphor exposes the fragility of these bonds and obligations. Society is not like a machine which can be reconstructed, because if certain parts of society cease to function in the way they should, then this can affect the whole organism (society).
- New Right diverges from these ideas
define the key concept of pragmatism
Pragmatism
- refers to taking a view, and behaving, based on practical considerations, and applying reason to each scenario, rather than based on ideological leanings or principles
- solving real world issues on the basis of summing up the pros and cons, rather than taking an ideological stance which may be divorced from reality in this context
- links to Oakeshott
What are the core ideas of conservatives on the economy?
Economy
- divisions between traditional and paternalistic conservatives, and libertarian conservatives
Traditional conservatives
- support intervention
- extension of private property rights also creates social obligations, as the current generation is the custodian of accumulated wealth, and therefore has a duty to preserve this wealth for future generations, and for the sake of those who worked hard to contribute towards the wealth.
- social obligations also suggest that the wealthy have a duty to the less well off - developed in One Nation conservative thinking
Libertarian conservatives
- opposes intervention in the economy
- disagree that property should bring obligation - property has been earned, therefore people have the unchecked right to do as they want with it
- incompatible with welfare or redistribution
- traditional conservatives are more pragmatist, seeing what works, while liberal conservatives are more rationalist, advocating for market economics
Agreement on necessity of private property rights, despite having different reasons for this:
- traditional conservatives believe that property has a range of social and psychological advantages. It provides security - in an unpredictable world, private property establishes assurance and confidence that humans have a safe asset to fall back on. Moreover, if each person has a stake in society, it encourages people to act responsibly and discourages crime, as those with property are more likely to respect the property of others. Therefore, private property rights establishes law and order
- liberal conservatives believe that property is an indication of merit, because through their own hard work, they have been able to acquire property, which is the reward for their labour. Property has been earnt - creates an economic incentive crucial to the functioning of the economy.
What are the core ideas of conservatives on the state?
State
- the authority of the state arises naturally - authority can only be imposed from above
- natural aristocracy - the idea that talent and leadership are innate or inbred qualities which cannot be achieved through effort or self advancement - caused some conservative thinkers to have a bias towards certain people for being able to lead the country
- neoliberal wing of New Right believes in very limited govt intervention inspired by their views in individualism
why do conservatives place so much emphasis on tradition within society?
tradition
- tradition gives a sense of identity to people, which is reassuring and familiar
- tradition is also the accumulation of the wisdom of the past. Institutions and customs have only survived because they have worked and been found to be of value.
- this reflects a Darwinian belief - institutions have survived through natural selection
why do conservatives place emphasis on hierarchy within society?
hierarchy
- hierarchy is important in the functioning of society, so that people know their own responsibilities
- this creates natural inequality
- link to traditional conservative belief in paternalism - although there is natural inequality, this is justified by a corresponding inequality of social responsibilities, as although employers may earn more, they have greater social responsibilities in looking after the welfare of their workers. By comparison, the working class have fewer social responsibilities.
What are Burke’s views on human nature?
Human nature
- Burke puts more emphasis on humans as being creatures of habit. New ideas which break those habits tends to generate unpredictable responses from humans, as change is unfamiliar and frightening to them
- there is a subtle difference between Burke and Hobbes, because Hobbes sees humans as ‘constant calculators of their own interests’, according to hampsher-Monk. In other words, he sees them as completely greedy and selfish.
Burke’s views on society
- talk about habit, honour and the contract within society
Society
Habit and custom
- Burke believes that the political processes and institutions which have evolved and developed over the course of history should be recognised as the accumulated wisdom of the past generations. They have been subject, by a sort of Darwinian process, to natural selection, where they have been tested in every circumstance
- the fact that they have ‘survived’ is testament to the system/policy’s strength
- therefore, this influences Burke’s views on society, but also on the need for a small state with minimal change
Honour
- in society, honour and trust is needed to ensure that agreements between people are upheld, and that agreements can happen in the first place, because without honour, there isn’t enough trust for people to believe that others will hold up their end of the bargain.
- therefore, humans must not be too self-interested.
Contract
- society is a partnership “between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born”
- everyone is automatically part of society
- this suggests that everyone has responsibilities so that they can preserve the wealth and wisdom handed down by past generations, and so that they can help support and nurture future generations.
Burke’s views on the economy
Economy
- “the balance between production and consumption makes price”
- referring to the market, he wrote that anyone would be astonished to find “the correctness, the celerity, the general equity, with which the balance of wants is settled”
- these quotes indicate that Burke believes in an economy which delivers the best outcome when it is not interfered with
Burke’s views on the state
State
- “a state without the means of some change, is without the means of its own conservation”
- this quote emphasises Burke’s cautious approach towards change, but also reveals his pragmatism towards some social change, as he recognises that the traditional conservative values of tradition, hierarchy, order and authority, will only be safe if change is made based on ‘what works’, practical circumstances, and experience.
- he therefore advocates for ‘change in order to conserve’
What are the core ideas of One nation Conservatives, giving examples with (non-key thinker) Disraeli?
One Nation conservatism
- inequalities of wealth give rise to inequalities in the social responsibilities that they must have.
- the wealthy and the powerful must shoulder the burden of social responsibility
- noblesse oblige - obligations of the aristocracy to the lower classes
- noblesse oblige should not only be expressed through generosity, but also through social reform
- e.g., Disraeli introduced the Factory Act 1874, which restricted the freedoms of landlords and factory owners, therefore protecting workers
- e.g., Bismarck - first welfare state - provided workers with state backed insurance against sickness, accident, and old age
Neoliberalism - what are their core beliefs and policies
who are their key thinkers?
Neoliberalism
- strong believers of market fundamentalism - the ability of the free market to solve economic and social problems, and deliver general properity
- belief in atomistic/egoistical individualism - human beings should be given the freedom to become self-reliant. They are capable of making rational choices
Policies
- decrease taxes - corporate and income taxes
- decrease spending - welfare spending in particular
- minimal intervention by the state
- privatisation
Key Thinkers
- Ayn Rand
- Robert Nozick
Neoconservatism - what are their core beliefs and policies?
who are their key thinkers?
Rand
