conservatism Flashcards
what is Hobbes’ view on human nature
- 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”
what is Hobbes’ view on society and state
- 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
define pragmatism
- flexible approach to society and making decision based on what works
- evidence based
pragmatism and society
- 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
pragmatism and the economy
adopted pragmatic “middle way” approach to economy that combines market competition with government regulation
define tradition
- customs and practices that have been kept and passed on over time
tradition and society
- 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
tradition and human nature
humans are weak and thus tradition provides the framework for society to work
define human imperfection
- people are flawed and incapable of making decisions
- kept in check due to capacity for evil
human imperfection and society and state
- 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
human imperfection psychological definition
- humans are limited and desire familiarity and safety from knowing their place in society
- social order and predictability
human imperfection moral definition
- naturally selfish and greedy
- human nature accounts for antisocial and criminal behaviour
- needs tough law and order to act as a deterrent
human imperfection intellectual definition
- lack intellect and power of reasoning
- reject theories that claim to predict the development of society
- needs to be pragmatic and draw tradition
define organic state/society
society is more important that individual parts
organic state and human nature
based on natural needs and instincts like affection and security
organic state and society
- 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
organic state and the state
- top down authority provides security and direction
-relies on paternalism
define paternalism
government should be conducted by those who are best equipped to lead by virtue of their birth and upbringing
what is the difference between soft and hard paternalism
soft- recipients give consent
hard- imposed in an authoritarian manner
paternalism and the state
- 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
paternalism and the economy
- “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
define libertarianism
upholds liberty and seeks for maximum economic freedom
libertarianism and human nature
humans and naturally competitive, self interested, rational and autonomous
libertarianism and the state
-minimum state intervention in lives
- states primary role is to protect individual rights
- remove dependency culture- benefits
libertarianism and the economy
- 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
Burkes view in the state and society
- 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”
oakeshotts view on human nature
- human imperfection- people do not have mental facilities to make sense of the world
oakeshotts view on society and state
- 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
Rand view on human nature
- 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
Rand view on state and society
- “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
Rand view on economy
- laissez faire economy “full, pure, uncontrolled, unregulated”
Nozick view on human nature
- 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
Nozick view on economy
- 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
Nozick view on the state
- 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
