Conservatism Flashcards
What are the three branches of Conservatism?
Traditional
One-nation
New Right
Who are the traditional conservative key thinkers?
Thomas Hobbes
Edmund Burke
What is a main feature of traditional conservatism regarding support for the poor?
Nobles Oblige
Define nobles oblige
With nobility and privileges comes responsibility for those less fortunate
What did Thomas Hobbs say life would be like without the state?
“nasty, brutish and short”
What was Thomas Hobbes’ social contract theory?
Humans must sacrifice some freedoms in order to establish a state however they have the right to remove it
What is Edmund Burke’s view regarding political change?
Political change should be gradual and done with caution
What is meant by Edmund Burke’s suggestion of empiricism?
Knowladge must come from real experience
What did Edmund Burke believe was important about society?
Society was Organic and society as a whole was more important than the individual
Name an Edmund Burke quote about society
“society is a contract between the dead, the living and those yet to be born”
Name two one-nation key thinker’s
Michael Oakeshott
Benjamin Disraeli
Why do one-nation conservatives want to preserve traditional institutions?
they Create national identity as well as pride
What is the one-nation idea of pragmatic reform?
Improve conditions for the poorest in society in order to preserve the position of the upper classes
What is Oakeshott’s idea of a pragmatic approach?
Due to human complexity, change must be based on experience
What is Oakeshott’s idea of a rational approach?
Societies leaders must act on their own reason
State a quote by Michael Oakeshott
“To prefer the tried to the untried”
What are the two branches of New Right conservatism?
Neo-liberalism
Neo-conservatism
State three features of Neo-liberalism
Minimal state
free market
Limited government intervention
State three features of Neo-conservatism
Law and order
Defence spending
Anti-immigration
Name the two New Right conservative thinkers
Ayn Rand
Robert Nozick
What is Ayn Rands view on human nature?
Humans have a right to be selfish and act in their own interests
What did Ayn Rand suggest about wealth redistribution?
That we should praise wealth creation and not its redistribution
What was Robert Nozick’s idea of libertarian?
maximum freedom for the individual
What is mean by Nozick’s night watchman state?
extremely limited government that is only used for public order and the protection of rights
What did Nozick say regarding wealth redistribution?
It undermines liberal freedom
State a quote by Benjamin Disraeli regarding the one-nation view of maintaining power
“The palace is not safe when the cottage is not happy”
