conservatism Flashcards

1
Q

what is Hobbes’ view on human nature

A
  • humans are needy and vulnerable and can easily be led astray to understand the world
  • human capacity to reason is fair and people’s attempts to interpret the world is distorted by self interest
  • “nasty, brutish and short”
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2
Q

what is Hobbes’ view on society and state

A
  • believe that an ordered society would balance out the human need for a free life
  • need a sovereign leader, that we collectively agree and elect, to keep law and order
  • “a war of all against all”
  • rational people would choose to sacrifice freedoms for order
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3
Q

define pragmatism

A
  • flexible approach to society and making decision based on what works
  • evidence based
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4
Q

pragmatism and society

A
  • work in a cautious way and avoid abstract ideas like human rights that tried to reorder society
  • allows for natural or inevitable change in society
  • avoid revolution and revolt
  • change to conserve policy in order to safeguard essential features like property and order
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5
Q

pragmatism and the economy

A

adopted pragmatic “middle way” approach to economy that combines market competition with government regulation

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6
Q

define tradition

A
  • customs and practices that have been kept and passed on over time
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7
Q

tradition and society

A
  • current values that have survived over time should be preserved for future generations- peoples solemn duty
  • reform or change can only happen if it evolves naturally
  • provides society and individuals with a strong sense of identity and allows for social cohesion
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8
Q

tradition and human nature

A

humans are weak and thus tradition provides the framework for society to work

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9
Q

define human imperfection

A
  • people are flawed and incapable of making decisions
  • kept in check due to capacity for evil
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10
Q

human imperfection and society and state

A
  • tough stance on law and order
  • foreign policy has to be based on national security
  • human behaviour is competitive so political systems work when they recognise self interest is more powerful
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11
Q

human imperfection psychological definition

A
  • humans are limited and desire familiarity and safety from knowing their place in society
  • social order and predictability
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12
Q

human imperfection moral definition

A
  • naturally selfish and greedy
  • human nature accounts for antisocial and criminal behaviour
  • needs tough law and order to act as a deterrent
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13
Q

human imperfection intellectual definition

A
  • lack intellect and power of reasoning
  • reject theories that claim to predict the development of society
  • needs to be pragmatic and draw tradition
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14
Q

define organic state/society

A

society is more important that individual parts

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15
Q

organic state and human nature

A

based on natural needs and instincts like affection and security

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16
Q

organic state and society

A
  • society and social groups provide individuals with a sense of security an dourise
  • prevent development of anomie- instability affecting individuals and societies from breakdown of social standards and values
  • humans accept the duties and responsibilities from belonging to society
  • without acknowledging social obligations, society would lack social cohesion and descend into atomism
  • internal elements cannot be randomly reconfigured and relationships are delicate
  • society is naturally hierarchical and relies on inequality as different groups have specific roles
17
Q

organic state and the state

A
  • top down authority provides security and direction
    -relies on paternalism
18
Q

define paternalism

A

government should be conducted by those who are best equipped to lead by virtue of their birth and upbringing

19
Q

what is the difference between soft and hard paternalism

A

soft- recipients give consent
hard- imposed in an authoritarian manner

20
Q

paternalism and the state

A
  • social elite provide leadership from innate abilities, which cannot be obtained from hard work
  • duty of care to lower social ranks and to alleviate hardships
21
Q

paternalism and the economy

A
  • “middle way” economic approach to social reform- between free market and state planning
  • private enterprise without selfishness
  • state has obligation to intervene in economy and maintain the welfare state
22
Q

define libertarianism

A

upholds liberty and seeks for maximum economic freedom

23
Q

libertarianism and human nature

A

humans and naturally competitive, self interested, rational and autonomous

24
Q

libertarianism and the state

A

-minimum state intervention in lives
- states primary role is to protect individual rights
- remove dependency culture- benefits

25
Q

libertarianism and the economy

A
  • maximum economic freedom, with free trade and market economy
  • inflation is the biggest threat to the market economy, and is the only aspect that requires government intervention in order to control it
  • focus on highest levels of production which only works with minimal government regulation
  • taxation is seen as “state robbery” by transferring property from one to another without consent
26
Q

Burkes view in the state and society

A
  • pragmatic
  • change with great caution
  • tradition should be respected, rooted and tied
  • drastic changes and abstract ideas would descend into chaos
  • organic society
  • focus on empiricism- knowledge from real experience
  • “a state without the means of change is without the means of its conservation”
27
Q

oakeshotts view on human nature

A
  • human imperfection- people do not have mental facilities to make sense of the world
28
Q

oakeshotts view on society and state

A
  • actions should be guided by pragmatism
  • theories and ideologies oversimplify complex situations
  • society is unpredictable and complex
  • “the office of government is merely to rule” “not impose other beliefs” “not direct them”
  • pragmatism maintains social stability and is flexible
  • focus on tradition
29
Q

Rand view on human nature

A
  • people should pursue their own happiness
  • people should work hard to achieve a life of purpose and productiveness
  • objectivism - advocates virtues of rational self interest
30
Q

Rand view on state and society

A
  • “the question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me”
  • any control stops a person from working freely and being productive
  • condemns personal altruism- artificial sense of obligation
  • against welfare and wealth redistribution
31
Q

Rand view on economy

A
  • laissez faire economy “full, pure, uncontrolled, unregulated”
32
Q

Nozick view on human nature

A
  • individuals cannot be treated a a thing or used against their will as a resource
  • individuals own their bodies, talents, abilities and labour
  • “individuals have rights and there are things no person or group may do to them”
  • humans are rational and self aware with free will
33
Q

Nozick view on economy

A
  • taxes levied to fund state welfare programmes are immoral
  • self ownership
  • taxation is a form of slavery- state giving others entitlements to an individuals own labour
34
Q

Nozick view on the state

A
  • minimal or “night watchman” state- powers limited to protecting people against violence, theft and fraud
  • states shouldn’t interfere even with what people eat/drink