Conservatism

Question 1

Who are the Conservatism thinkers?

Answer 1

• Thomas Hobbs - 17th century
• Edmund Burke - 18th century
• Micheal Oakeshott - 20th Century
• Ayn Rand - 20th Cen
• Nozick - 20/21th century

Question 2

Two Strands of Conservatism?

Answer 2

Traditional; Burke, Hobbes, Oakeshott (kinda/middle)

• Pessimistic Human Nature
• State driven by tradition + pragmatism
• Free Market Economy
• Society necessary e.g. little platoons + hierarchy

New Right; Rand, Nozick

• Human nature - less pessimistic than traditional still flawed - self-intrest
• State - extremely limited, welfare state creates dependency, need some for moderation of economy + society
• Economy - Laissex faire , free market
• Individualist Society - emphasis on individualism - Nozick little platoon adaptation - Rand atomistic society

Question 3

What to include in Intro (Conservatism)

Answer 3

Intro
- Ideology based on tradition, social order and pragmatism instead of set manifesto
- Intro to disagreement / agreement
–> e.g. Splits based on time period writing - Hobbs and burke tradition view, New right of Nozick + Rand more extreme and contrasting
- ofc paragraph intro sentences

Question 4

Paternalism definition

Answer 4

‘fatherly’ obligations a ruling class has to society
- Hard Paternalism means without consent
- Soft Paternalism requires consent.

Question 5

Thomas Hobbes views on; State, Human Nature and Society

Answer 5

→ Human Nature ‘Nasty, Brutish and short” require ‘Social contract’ - driven by self- interest need give up freedom for protection - wrote during Civil War
→ State to enforce order + tame State of Nature - State through social contract must be autocratic and awesome
→ Society - doesn’t exist until social contract and state in place
–> no economy sorry

Question 6

Burke State, Economy, Human Nature and Society

Answer 6

Traditional
→ Human Nature imperfect, idealistic theoretic philosophies do not work
→ State resist change favour tradition, govern from bottom up in ‘little platoons’ - state should be organic driven by hereditary elite in interest of all - Should be Paternalistic
→ Society ‘organic society’ inequality + ruling class natural + desirable -society built of little platoons of self governing society
→ Economy - trade as organic free markets, laissez-faire capitalism - no gov intervention
- Change necessary, should be based on empiricism - Evolution not revolution

Question 7

Oakeshott on State, Economy, Human Nature and Society

Answer 7

One Nation
→ Human Nature “imperfect but not immoral” - humans best when free - “fallible not terrible”
→ Society → never be perfect, but can be good - pragmatic localised communities best
→ State, limited small state - job to “keep ship afloat”, fix bad not make good - guided by tradition + pragmatism
→ Economy - free markets can be volatile - need some state moderation
- Tradition is what has proved to work - must not be cast aside

Question 8

Rand on State, Economy, Human Nature and Society

Answer 8

• NR - Neo-liberal
  → Society, atomisation - society loose collection of individuals - not exist in a practical form - advocated extreme personal freedom - reject tradition
  → State - need limited small state - ‘nanny state’ create individuals with no rationality or autonomy - still need small state to provide liberty + order - reject positive liberty - Rejects elite rulership who use power for own self interest
  → Economy → laissez fair capitalism - reject gov intervention - free market capitalism as expression of individualism
  → Human Nature - objectivist guided by self interest

Question 9

Nozick on State, Economy, Human Nature and Society

Answer 9

NR - Neo-liberal
→ State, limited state necessary provide order + facilitate individualism + free-market capitalism , big state as threat to freedom, welfare state creates dependency culture - role to outsource to private business - tax as theft
→ Economy → Free-market capitalism, facilitated/ mediated by gov but no intervention - privatisation of industries - no welfare state - tax as theft
→ Human nature, egotistical, more optimistic than hobbs but violence, theft + dishonesty still part of humans - need state to limit this
→ Society → best version is small self-governing communities, version of ‘little platoons’ limited state to offer security

Question 10

Wider Scholars for Conservatism

Answer 10

Thatcher - Neo-conservative
–> deregulation, tax, cuts, Section 28 - banning education on gay relationships
Major - Neo-Conservative
–> ‘Back to Basics” - promoted traditional family units e.g. anti- gay - despite stream of sleaze sexual scandles under his Premiership
Cameron - One Nation
–> Big Society - give communities more power
Russel Kirk
—> Conservatism is not ideology, but state of Mind, and way of looking at society.

Question 11

New Right Vs Traditional Conservatism

Answer 11

Economy
New Right - Lassiez faire Free Economy - welfare makes dependent people
Traditional - Paternalism / Mixed
Both -Gov intervention,

Society
New Right - Permissive - favour extreme personal liberty - atomisation
Traditional - traditional morality, society give up freedoms for security + Burke little platoons
Both - Nozick + Burke little platoons

State
New Right - Limited but necessary
Traditional - Strong state

Human Nature
New Right - Pessimistic - driven by self-interest
Traditional - Pessimistic - driven by self interest