Conservatism Flashcards
What is teh agreement within Conservatism around Pragmatism?
Trad/ One Nation- based on prejudice, the traditions, habits and predisposition refelct accumilated wisdom
New Right- desire to maintain the value of tradition and enact slow change to society
What is the agreement within Conservatism in regards to Human Imperfection?
Trad/ One Nation- human nature is inclined towards a desire to form a society of collective groupings
New Right- structures such as the family and its support mechanisms are crucial for individuals
What is the disagreement within Conservatism in regards to Human imperfection?
Trad/ One Nation- Tradditional Conservatives believe that if left unchecked human nature can cause problems and place emphasis on tradditions and customs to guide human nature, hold a more pessimistic view of human nature, “ war of every man against every man”
New Right- human nature should be left unchecked, human nature should shift itself and venture into new avenues if this can deliver success, view human imperfection as progressive with the potencial of self-seeking individualism
What are the views of Thomas Hobbes on Human Nature, Society, Economy and state?
Human nature- Cynical, individuals are selfish and rythless, humans require strong state due to need for supremacy
Society- Society is created by the state, requires a social contract in order to create orderd society
Economy- constructive and enduring economic activity is impossible withoit a state taht guarantees order
State- governemnt by consent- individuals form contracts as they seek order and security
What are Edmund Burkes belief on Human Nature, Society, Economy and the State?
HN- sceptical, “ crooked timber of humanity”, a marked gap between aspiration and achievement, we desire, but cannot achieve perfection
Society- organic society, is based on small communities, tradition creates stability. Paternalism, the ruling class have a responsibility to societys weaker element.
Economy- Free-market and Laissez- faire, private property provides psychological security a state in society, that is moral with social cohesion
State- is organic and aristocratic, gradual change to conserve sudden changes as this is unstable, belief in a natural hierarchy
What are teh beliefs of Micheal Oakeshott for Human Nature, Society, Economy and State?
HN- humans are unable to understand reality, especially in a complex modern world, agrees with hobbes or humans being imperfect
Society- tradition and pragmatism, modern society is both unpredictable, people prefer the status quo of tradition
Economy- Free market, need to be moderated to keep society afloat
State- government by traddition, empiricism, pragmatism not ideology, state can be required to keep ship afloat
What are the beliefs of Ayn Rand for Human Nature, Society, Economy and the State?
HN- rational, humans should be guided by rational, self-interest and self-fulfilment, rejects human imperfection
Society- against organic society, as the obligations demanded from individuals erode their freedoms
Economy- free market with no state, respects the individuals rational pursuit of self interest, with a small state to mainatin the free markets
State- minimal role, opposed state welfare provisions, humans maintain their own lives through their own efforts, non agression principle- opposed state coercion
What are the Nozicks views on Human Nature, Society, Economy and State?
HN- indivduals are rational, self-aware beings that have free will, should not be used against their will, humans arent a”thing” or a slave
Society- anti-social contract, this does not enforce freedom but restricts it, indivduals rights and freedoms are more important than social obligations
Economy- opposes taxation for welfare state, as it is a form of “forced labour” teh state should only be an arbiter between private companies
state- “night watchman”, minimal state, should not be seen as more important than the individual. self-ownership, state cannot regulate what we eat, drink or smoke
What is the agreement within Conservatism in regards to Libertarianism?
All conservatives come to the consensus that it is the role of the state to not only defend economic contracts but also private property and thusly appeal for greater economic liberty and decreased regulation
What is the disagreement within Conservatism surrounding Libertarianism?
One nation prefer intervention, as BURKE eas in favour of Adam Smiths economic policy that favours economic liberalism. Strong desire fro free market, believe it is necessary and natural.
New Right- a firmer view on property rights as it allows for an incemtove to wrk but also a sense of duty and creates a more “civil society”, tempers irrational aspects of society into something more disciplined
What is the unified view within Conservatism in regards to Organic society/ state?
A living organism that depends on the relationship between different parts that perform an equally important, yet different role.
What is the disagreement within Conservatism in regards to Organic society/ state?
Burke, refers to society, to being held together as a “little platoon” to allow for freedom of acceptance and living role as each different group is dependant on different roles, the idea is to maintain a balance of duty.
New Right- Nozick, argues in favour of avoiding state intervention as a minimal state would allow individuals to flourish, not only neo-liberals but neo-conservatives oppose welfare dependancy as the New Right argues on a need to guide society and allow advancement.
