Conservatism

Question 1

what is Hobbes’ view on human nature

Answer 1

• 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”

Question 2

what is Hobbes’ view on society and state

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

define pragmatism

Answer 3

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

Question 4

pragmatism and society

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

pragmatism and the economy

Answer 5

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

Question 6

define tradition

Answer 6

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

Question 7

tradition and society

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

tradition and human nature

Answer 8

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

Question 9

define human imperfection

Answer 9

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

Question 10

human imperfection and society and state

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

human imperfection psychological definition

Answer 11

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

Question 12

human imperfection moral definition

Answer 12

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

Question 13

human imperfection intellectual definition

Answer 13

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

Question 14

define organic state/society

Answer 14

society is more important that individual parts

Question 15

organic state and human nature

Answer 15

based on natural needs and instincts like affection and security

Question 16

organic state and society

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

organic state and the state

Answer 17

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

Question 18

define paternalism

Answer 18

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

Question 19

what is the difference between soft and hard paternalism

Answer 19

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

Question 20

paternalism and the state

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

paternalism and the economy

Answer 21

• “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

Question 22

define libertarianism

Answer 22

upholds liberty and seeks for maximum economic freedom

Question 23

libertarianism and human nature

Answer 23

humans and naturally competitive, self interested, rational and autonomous

Question 24

libertarianism and the state

Answer 24

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

Question 25

libertarianism and the economy

Answer 25

• 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

Question 26

Burkes view in the state and society

Answer 26

• 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”

Question 27

oakeshotts view on human nature

Answer 27

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

Question 28

oakeshotts view on society and state

Answer 28

• 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

Question 29

Rand view on human nature

Answer 29

• 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

Question 30

Rand view on state and society

Answer 30

• “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

Question 31

Rand view on economy

Answer 31

• laissez faire economy “full, pure, uncontrolled, unregulated”

Question 32

Nozick view on human nature

Answer 32

• 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

Question 33

Nozick view on economy

Answer 33

• 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

Question 34

Nozick view on the state

Answer 34

• 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