Conservatism Flashcards
1
Q
Hobbes view on human nature
A
- Argued that humans are imperfect and self-interested.
- Has a pessimistic view of human nature - morally (selfish and violent), intellectually (incapable of understanding abstract ideas like freedom, equality) and psychologically (need security) imperfect
- Imperfection cannot be avoided as :
- Humans desire power and material gratification and are distrustful of others. This is the state of nature.
- However he did not believe that they were completely irrational as humans would recognise the ‘state of nature’ as a hell.
He theorized that individuals would seek a social contract; surrendering individual autonomy to a sovereign monarch providing order through authority.
2
Q
Hobbes view on society
A
- Once the state provides necessary order, society will emerge organically maturing into a complicated organism of traditions and customs.
In the state of nature life would be solitary, nasty, brutish and poor
3
Q
Hobbes view on the state
A
- Sovereign may behave in a corrupt manner, but insists behavior would be incredibly unwise if subjects do not feel safe.
- Sovereign is not bound by the social contract, they receive the obedience of the people who gift it.
- Should always be an absolute monarch
- He saw the state as an organic and natural body
Hobbes said state should be in charge of religion and military
4
Q
Burkes views on human nature
A
- Sovereign may behave in a corrupt manner, but insists behavior would be incredibly unwise if subjects do not feel safe.
- Sovereign is not bound by the social contract, they receive the obedience of the people who gift it.
- Should always be an absolute monarch
- He saw the state as an organic and natural body
Hobbes said state should be in charge of religion and military
5
Q
Burkes view on society
A
- Society is organic but is not static and sometimes ‘change to conserve’ itself. These changes should be guided by history, tradition, pragmatism and empiricism
- Viewed as hierarchical and opposed attempts to extend the franchise and thought universal suffrage would lead to mob rule.
- Society was a social contract between not only the living but also those who were dead and those yet to be born.
- Political power does not give those in charge the right to remodel society but mindful of the society that they have inherited their duty extends to preserving society for their descions.
Humans naturally form ‘little platoons’ = sociable groups e.g village. He believes society comes before the state. Local lord should be paternal = authority and caring. Noblesse oblige = if you are Nobel you have obligations to look after those who are less well off.
6
Q
Burkes view of the state
A
- Were very complex so reform could leave to disaster and tyranny. French Revolution based on abstract principles discarded empiricism and tradition for utopian idealism.
- Believed in the British monarchy
- Only aristocrats should have the vote as believes people are stupid.
Not high state interference as should be done by local lord or church
6
Q
Burkes view on the economy
A
- Followed Adam Smith’s ideas of the free market
- When he was at home made more moral decision but market becomes more selfish and this is alright.
- The free hand
Was not an economist himself absorbed Adam Smith’s ideas
7
Q
What type of conservative was Disraeli
A
Early One Nation Conservative
8
Q
One nation conservatives views on human nature
A
-Similar to traditional in the preference for pragmatism and organic society
- One nation conservatives are more open to rationalistic ideas
- Successful PM’s adopted keynsian economics
9
Q
Neo conservatives views on human nature
A
- Hobbesian view of moral imperfection and advocate tough law and order to maintain societal stability. They conclude the state is required to ensure an organic society
- Open to rationalism and state management, wanting rationally inspired welfare and education reforms
10
Q
Neo liberals views on human nature
A
- Optimistic = more than other strands
- Similar to Hobbes in that people are autonomous individuals
- However have a positive view of human nature as humans are rational and motivated to pursue their own self interests
- Individuals first loyalty is to their personal happiness
- Prefer scientific fact and logic to empiricism and pragmatism (trads)
11
Q
One nation conservatives views on the state
A
- Influenced by Burke and his ideas of noblesse oblige, paternalistic state intervention.
- Believe the primary purpose of the state is to preserve society
- Small scale state intervention due to empiricism
- Later they favoured more radical and rationally inspired state intervention = and increase in state intervention
- In crisis they advocate huge state intervention
12
Q
Neo conservatives views on the state
A
- Influenced by Hobbes and Burke where their primary function is to preserve society
- Believe in a less generous welfare state than one nation conservatives but agree that there must be welfare provision to maintain societal order
- Anti-poverty programmes advocated by ONC in the UK and modern liberalism inspired policies in the USA
- In times of crisis they will advocated huge state interference to preserve society and economy
13
Q
Neo liberals views of the state
A
- Argue for what Nozick called a miniaturist government with minimal state interference
- The most hostile to state interference in society and economy
- Nozick sees the primary role to protect human rights with state involvement ‘limited to the narrow functions of force, theft enforcement of contracts and so on’
14
Q
One nation conservatives views on society
A
- View society as organic and cannot exist before the state
- Early and modern ONC are sympathetic are sympathetic to ‘little platoons’
- Modern ONC is paternal and influenced by modern liberalism advocating for extensive state intervention in society. Oakeshott was critical of such rationalism
- Modern ONC is far more secular than traditional conservatism. And is far more inclusive on same sex relationships and LGBTQ+
- Is paternal and advocates a welfare state
