Conservatism Flashcards
Who are the 5 key thinkers in conservatism?
Hobbes, Burke, Oakeshott, Rand and Nozick
How do traditional conservatives view the state of nature? name the key thinker
Hobbes - entirely dangerous leading to a violent state of war due to lack of absolute rule
How do traditional conservatives view the social contracts? name the key thinker
Hobbes - opposed social contracts as we cannot unite over laws, only natural laws that are accepted out of self-preservation, like the ability to pursue peace and defend yourself
How do traditional conservatives view state power? name the key thinker
Hobbes - ‘nasty, brutish and short’ Absolute power is fundamental to avoid natural chaos, as we can not be free unless we are safe. Strong order and enforcement is needed (Leviathan 1651)
What are the 6 main ideas of traditional conservatism?
-Human Imperfection
-Tradition
-Pragmatism
-Organic Society
-Paternalism
-Libertarianism
How do traditional conservatives view human imperfection?
Psychologically, Morally, Intellectually flawed; justified strong government and order for our chaotic state of nature
How do traditional conservatives view tradition?
Society benefits from tradition, accumulated wisdom of generations, should be prejudice (sceptical) of new ideas, and change society to conserve custom - no change at all encourages revolution
How do traditional conservatives view pragmatism?
Reform based on ‘what works’, slow changes to the living organism of society, preference for common law and prescription (ownership from long-term use)
How do traditional conservatives view organic society?
Classes must work effectively as a ‘fixed compact’ and carry out our functions and duties that we are born into (Burke), as we have compulsory obligations and thus are never truly free
How do traditional conservatives view paternalism?
Those with natural aristocracy have a duty to lead lower classes, as they have the available skills - Supported Trustee model of representative democracy and hereditary lords to restrain tyranny of the majority
How did Burke view equality of outcome? (paternalism)
A ‘monstrous fiction’ - redistribution meant that none could have much, it would create equality in equal beggary
How do traditional conservatives view libertarianism?
Individual freedom, minimal state and laissez fare capitalism supported - inequality and hierarchy natural and invoke order to self-interested individuals, importance of property rights as an incentive to work (Burke)
How did disraeli view society as two nations? (One-Nation Conservatism)
A rich and poor nation that threatened stability by seperating, objected equality of outcome and supported equality of opportunity
How did one nation conservatives view the economy?
Combining paternalism with capitalism to improve conditions of work, opposed laissez-faire capitalism as wages and employment increased with intervention
How did Disraeli view noblesse oblige? (One-Nation Conservatism)
Belief in hierarchy, but wealthy needed to take on more duties and obligations, as the state would need to take on this welfare otherwise - to ignore the needs of the masses is to risk revolutionary change as the ‘palace is unsafe if the cottage is unhappy’
What is Macmillans middle way? (One-Nation Conservatism)
An idea that emerged from WW1 to improve the lives of the poor, laissez-faire criticised after Great Depression
How did Macmillan tackle the economy using the ‘middle way’? (One-Nation Conservatism)
Keynesian economics to fight unemployment, cutting taxes and using spending for growth when economy slows - market should not be completely independent, instead making plans together for growth
How did Macmillan view state welfare in his ‘middle way’ (One-Nation Conservatism)
There should be a basic safety net to tackle health and unemployment, as the free market often couldn’t deliver such protections
What are Hayek’s views that influenced the emergence of the New Right? (Conservatism)
Organic Change, scepticism of human capacity, laissez-faire capitalism, retaining traditions and using common law because it is pragmatic
What are Thatchers economic policies and their aims? (NR Conservatism)
Monetarism - replaced Keynasian economics and focused on cutting inflation instead of controlling unemployment to end ‘Stagflation’, deregulation and privatisation to create competition, disengagement to accept the collapse of failing industries
What are Thatchers social policies and their aims? (NR Conservatism)
Neo-conservatism view on permissive society, greater focus on law and order rather than the social causes of the crime, tradition encouraged and voluntary associations - linked to Burke’s little platoons to relieve state dependency
What is Rand’s theory on ethical egoism? (NR Conservatism)
Opposition to altruism that valued self-sacrifice at the cost of our own quality of life, we must be rational to survive which is considered selfish thus ‘evil’ - set objectivist values to prioritise your interests (reason, purpose and self-esteem)
How did Rand view atomic society? (NR Conservatism)
Opposed organicism (society evolving), we should prioritise individualism and negative rights and so that the state shouldn’t manage speech - innovators encouraged to progress society, while second handers underperformed and shouldn’t be provided welfare as they become dependant
How did Rand view the minimal state with laissez-faire capitalism?
Negative rights protected to not infringe on others, as the state may become ‘feeble if it became flabby’ - overburdened by trying to provide welfare thus losing efficiency. Capitalism is the only system compatible with human nature, as it allows people to pursue their own interests without being bailed out by the state
What book did Nozick publish and what issues did he focus on?
‘Anarchy, State and Utopia’ (1974), focused on the issue of individual rights and the role of the state to protect these
How did Nozick view utilitarianism?
Opposed the fact it focused on the ends rather than the means, encouraged some violations of an individuals rights in order to produce good for the rights of the majority
What is Nozicks theory on ‘the separateness of persons and self ownership’?
We are all distinct individuals, so one person should not have to sacrifice their rights for a common good, individuals are not a tool for society
How did Nozick propose the only way to protect rights in society?
Side Constraints - an impermissible barrier to stop infringement, small limits that are only imposed to protect others rights
Why Nozick disagree with paternalism and redistribution of wealth?
Paternalism - violates ‘side constraints’ to force someones to take an action, even if you know it would be good for them
Redistribution - viewed as stealing, an equal share equates to partial ownership which undermines separateness of the person
How does Nozick view the invisible hand with the minimal state
A dominant agency that emerges from competing in the free market, as more people will join the larger agency - smaller groups will be forced to join the dominant one for better protection, therefore should be entitled to compensation for lack of choice
What is Nozicks ‘Entitlement Theory of Justice’?
Used to reinforce the minimal state, ensures the means of redistribution are just, which requires justice in acquisition, transfer and rectification - focuses on what we are legitimately entitled to rather than what we morally deserve, thus avoiding a welfare state
What are the main ideas of one nation conservatism?
-Pragmatism
-Paternalism
-Organic Society
Who are the key thinkers of One nation conservatism?
Michael Oakeshott
What are the main ideas of the new right?
-Objectivism
-Minimal state
-Laissez faire economics
-Libertarianism
Who are the key thinkers for the new right?
Ayn Rand and Robert Nozick, both neo liberal
Who are the key thinkers of traditional conservatism?
Thomas Hobbes and Embund Burke
How did traditional conservatives view property rights? name the key thinker
Burke believed this was a god given right, it gives incentives to work, enforces stability and checks on irrational impulses, belief in prescription (ownership over a period of time)
How did the NR view property rights?
Rand argued everyone should be allowed free access to prooerty, opposed positive rights that meant inevitably infringing on another individuals property rights and asking them to sacrifice.
Nozick argued one requirement of fair distribution is the ‘justice in acquisition’ so unowned property must be acquired in legitimate ways
How did tradition conservatives view the state?
Absolute power from the state to enforce law and order, Hobbs said only way people could feel safe and state of nature was violent, opposed social contracts
How did traditional conservatives view society?
Burke’s ‘little platoons’ (community), natural hierarchy, living organism so slow change with tradition for stability and to deal with human imperfection - organic society
How did traditional conservatives view the economy?
Burke - laissez-faire but reluctant supporters of capitalism due to its radical change, state intervention may disrupt invisible hand and discourage work
How did traditional conservatives view human nature?
Hobbes - Relavitism (pessimistic), humans flawed so strong gov needed, cannot agree on absolute truths or morals so state of nature is dangerous and social contracts cannot be made
How did ONC view the state?
State must take role of duties noblesse oblige, provide basic welfare net and cutting taxes to not discourage work (Macmillan Middle Way)
How did ONC view society?
Oakeshott - focus on organicism and tradition, civil and enterprise association used together so change based on intimations rather than abstract ideologies, society to ‘keep afloat’ rather than a destination
How did ONC view human nature?
Oakeshott - state of nature not as brutish as traditional - ‘fallible but not terrible, and imperfect but not immoral’
How did NR view the state
Nozick - minimal state as a form of utopia, cannot be ‘feeble it it became flabby’ (providing welfare, Rand), reduce tax and less gov spending, negative rights only, state as dominant agency
How did NR view society?
Rand - atomised, side constraints and separateness of persons whose rights are not sacrificed for society,
How did NR view economy?
Nozick opposed redistribution as stealing that undermines self ownership, laissez faire capitalism only one compatible with HN, invisible hand sending signals
How did NR view human nature?
Individuals rights protected through side constrains and we are ‘freedom loving pack animals’ (Nozick), must be selfish to survive (Ethical Egoism, Rand)
How did Oakeshott view pragmatism with practical and technical knowledge?
Practical knowledge is wisdom that is learnt through experience and traditions, while technical knowledge are abstract ideas that only came from pratical knowledge - supports pragmastism as a flexible approach rather than perfect solutions
How did Oakeshott view politics of faith and scepticism?
Opposed faith due to its idoelogical nature of a utopian world, but supported scepticism as reforms would be based on intimations of society, supports pragmatism as no absolute solution, just ‘keeping afloat’ in society
What are Oakeshotts civil and enterprise associations?
Civil is the ideal image of society that has the smallest limits on freedom and laws are created from common law, while enterprise uses an ideological vision which limits freedom of individuals
How do Oakeshotts civil and enterprise associations support pragmatism?
Both should be used together as substantive goals should be completed through small reforms of a foundation
What is conservative disposition? name the key thinker
Oakeshott - preference on using what society has compared to what it could be (the familiar rather than unknown), this upholds tradition and rejects utopia
