conservatism

Question 1

What does pragmatism mean?

Answer 1

Flexible approach to society with decisions made on the basis of what works

Question 2

What does paternalism mean?

Answer 2

Benign power exerted from above by the state, governs in the interest of the people

Question 3

What does tradition mean?

Answer 3

Accumulated wisdom of past societies and a connection between the generations

Question 4

What does human imperfection mean?

Answer 4

Humans are flawed which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves

Question 5

What does the organic society/state mean?

Answer 5

State/society is more important than any individual parts

Question 6

What does libertarianism mean?

Answer 6

(neo-liberalism) Upholds liberty, seeking to maximise autonomy and free choice, mainly in economics

Question 7

What does hierarchy mean?

Answer 7

Conservative belief that society is naturally organised in fixed unequal tiers

Question 8

What does authority mean?

Answer 8

People in higher positions in society are best able to make decisions on behalf of others

Question 9

What does changes to conserve mean?

Answer 9

Idea that society should adapt to changing circumstances by introducing moderate reforms
(reduce risk of rebellion or revolution)

Question 10

What does atomism mean?

Answer 10

Society made up of self interested/self sufficient individuals
(egotistical individualism)

Question 11

What are traditional conservatism main views?

Answer 11

Commitment to hierarchic and paternalistic values

Question 12

What are one-nation conservatism main views?

Answer 12

Updating traditional conservatism in response to the emergence of capitalism

Question 13

What are new right conservatism main views?

Answer 13

Contains neo-liberal (free market economics and atomistic individualusm) and neo-conservatism (fear of social fragmentation, tough on law and order and public morality)

Question 14

What does noblesse oblige mean?

Answer 14

Nobility and privilege brings with them social responsibilities, duty and obligations to care for those less fortunate

Question 15

What does anti-permissiveness mean?

Answer 15

Rejection of permissiveness, which is the belief that people should make their own moral choices

Question 16

What does radical mean?

Answer 16

Beliefs, ideas or attitude that favour drastic political, economic and social change

Question 17

What are Thomas Hobbes main views?

Answer 17

Order - ordered society should balance the human need to lead a free life
Human nature - humans are needy, vulnerable and easily led astray whilst attempting to understand the world around them

Question 18

What are Edmund Burke main views?

Answer 18

Change - political change should be undertaken with great caution and organically
Tradition and empiricism - practise passed down for generations should be respected

Question 19

What are Michael Oakeshott main views?

Answer 19

Humans Imperfection - society is unpredictable and humans are imperfect
Pragmatism - conservatism being pragmatic

Question 20

What are Ayn Rand main views?

Answer 20

Objectivism - advocates the virtues of rational self-interest
Freedom - supports pure laissez fair capitalist economy

Question 21

What are Robert Nozick main views?

Answer 21

Libertarianism - individuals in society can’t be treated as a thing or used against their will as a resource
Self ownership - individuals own their body, abilities, talents and labour

Question 22

What does Laissez-faire mean?

Answer 22

Minimal intervention in business and the state by the government

Question 23

What does Empiricism mean?

Answer 23

Knowledge comes from real experience and not from abstract theories