Conservatism

Question 1

Idea

Answer 1

One belief about how society should be run

Question 2

Policy

Answer 2

A specific proposal which would change the law and resolve a specific problem in how society is run based on an idea

Question 3

Ideology

Answer 3

A collection of related political ideas that come together to create a vision of an idealised society

Question 4

Human nature definition

Answer 4

The distinguishing characteristics of a human such as how they think, feel and behave

Question 5

Society definition

Answer 5

A group of people who live together with shared cultural values and heritage

Question 6

State definition

Answer 6

A centralised government with defined sovereignty over clear areas

Question 7

Economy definition

Answer 7

The production and consumption of goods and services and the supply of money

Question 8

Why, in the UK, is ‘conservatism’ not synonymous with the Conservative party?

Answer 8

The Conservative Party, does not uphold the principles of Conservatism, the party also reflects many of the liberal principles such as free market and individual aspiration

Question 9

The state…

Jacob Rees Mogg on food banks

Answer 9

The state can’t do everything, it provides a base of welfare for those to make ends meet, but on some occasions it doesn’t work

Charitable support is good, and people know food banks are there, but Labour won’t tell them so rising numbers

Question 10

Changing to conserve

Answer 10

The fundamental principle of conservatism and one that distinguises a conservative from a reactionary

Indicates a belief that for something valuable to be preserved, it has to be continuosly updated and maintained

Question 11

Institutions conservatives want to preserve

Answer 11

• Monarchy
• Churches - Church of England
• Parliament

Question 12

The core ideas of Conservatism - human nature

Answer 12

Humans are:
- psychologically imperfect - humans are dependent and seek security, has implications for tradition
- morally imperfect, with base and non-rational urges and instincts
- intellectually imperfect, living in a world beyond human understanding, preference for tradition, experience and pragmatism over fixed abstract principles

Question 13

The core ideas of Conservatism - society - localism

Answer 13

• ‘Little Platoons’ - a minority will naturally rule a majority
• Example is David Cameron’s Big Society vision - groups should be able to run and shape housing and transport projects - a big advance for ‘people power’

Question 14

Organic society

Answer 14

• Each individual is part of, and contributes to, an organic whole
• Duty, obligation and tradition act as the social cement
• Shared values and common culture ensure the organic state flourishes so they fear diversity and pluralism - based on the individual element
• Hierachy is implicit and social equality is undesirable, impossible and ultimately unnatural

Question 15

The core ideas of Conservatism - society - tradition

Answer 15

• Provides security in an uncertain world
• Change and reform - though inevitable must be slow, not drastic, respectful of the past

Question 16

The core ideas of Conservatism - society - organicism

Answer 16

• Society is not something that can be continued or created but rather something that emerges gradually and organically.

Question 17

The core ideas of Conservatism - society - empiricism (rather than normative)

Answer 17

Conservatives deal with society’s issues in a practical, evidential fashion with no clear view on how society might evolve

Oakeshott observed the conservative society is one that merely aims to ‘stay afloat’ in uncertain values, rather than sail steadily towards some specific destination

Question 18

The core ideas of Conservatism - society - hierachy

Answer 18

• Natural because imperfectness in humanity leads to inequality in human nature
• Paternalism and noblesse oblige - the relationship between stronger and weaker elements of society are akin to this

Oakeshott observed ‘just as the plant’s new leaves are connected to, dependent on and explained by the plants roots and branches, to a society’s present direction stands from its past development’

Question 19

Society - Judaeo Christian Morality

Answer 19

Religious principles are important to Conservatives because there is a strong emphasis on marriage, self contained families and individuals being held accountable for their own actions, refuting the socialist convention that ‘dysfunctional’ individuals are merely the product of ‘dysfunctional societies’

Question 20

The core ideas of Conservatism - society - property

Answer 20

Supports tradition and continuity

• Often inherited from one generation to another - stability instead of autonomous individuals
• Property has a ‘stake’ in existing society and we should have concern for those less fortunate - provides a platform and an incentive for property owners to exercise a ‘duty of care’ towards others and maintain existing society

Burke: The ideal society is a ‘partnership between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are yet to be born’

Question 21

Conservative views on the state

Answer 21

• Main purpose is a disciplinary function - to provide order, security and authority
• State should emerge gradually and without fanfare - ‘an organic and pragmatic response to humanity’s need;
• Differs from Hobbesian view (notion of a state ‘rationally created by contract’ arguing that is normative and not empirical - based on ideals rather than reality
• Hierachael state links to ruling class power will often be hereditary and artistocratic rather than democratic

Question 22

Conservative views on the economy

Answer 22

• Believe capitalism is natural as it tends to nurture and widen economic inequalities and sharpen the distinction between the rich and the poor
• Some conservatives cautious about fully embracing capitalism as it worships order, stability and continuity, but capitalism and free market promotes risk
• Support protectionism - society and the economy insured against vagaries of markets by state imposed tariffs and duties. Protection of national producers and consumerism consistent with traditional conservatism emphasis on national identity and ‘one nation’

Question 23

Traditional Conservatism

Answer 23

Founded by Burke after he was concerned about the effects of untested radical enlightenment from the French rev on how society should be organised

Was worried it would destroy the security and value of tradition and authority - particularly the effects of ‘mob rule’ saying that tradition and order would be ‘crushed under the boots of the swinish multitude’

Question 24

Hobbes views

Answer 24

• The state of nature would not be pretty without a central authority
• Divine right of kings proven wrong - atheist - fault of the people, not the monarchy - social contract
• To what extent should we start rebellions and dispose governments or patiently obey leaders

Question 25

Hobbes key quotes

Answer 25

The on from Conservative thinkers and

‘He that complaineth of injury from his sovereign, compaineth o that thereof he is the author himself and therefore ought not to accuse any man but himselfe’

Question 26

Traditional Conservatism - economy

Answer 26

• Little platoons
• One generation to another - tradition
• Property
• Empericism

Question 27

Traditional Conservatism - society

Answer 27

• Paternalism, noblesse oblige
• Organicism
• ‘Dysfunctional’
• Natural hierachy

Question 28

Traditional Conservatism - human nature

Answer 28

• Order and authority (disciplinary function)
• Without order, no liberty, and can be no order till the emergence of clear, undisputed law backed by firm authority