Conservatism Flashcards
Who are the Traditional Conservatives?
Burke and Hobbes
Who are the One-Nation Conservatives?
Only Oakshott
Who are the New Right, Neo-Liberal Conservatives?
Rand and Nozick
How does Burke view an ideal state?
Paternalism: noblesse oblige, the ruling class will govern in the interests of all
Burke says the state is akin to what?
Akin to a plant
What does Burke think of Capitalism and free trade?
Supports free trade
What does Burke ask of landlords?
Landlords to be fair to their tenants
Burke outlines localism in society, what is this?
Local production and consumption of goods
What is favoured by Burke, between generations in society?
Empiricism (experience), tradition and partnership between generations is favoured
Burke has an organic view of which two things?
Society and change (pragmatic)
What would Burke’s ideal society look like?
Society of ‘little platoons’: small, largely autonomous communities
How does Burke say change must occur?
Change must be cautious: change to conserve
What is Burke’s, slightly pessimistic, view of human nature?
Human imperfection, Mankind’s fallibility- tendency to fail more than succeed
Burke believes there is a natural class of what?
There is a natural class of born rulers
Why was Burke critical of revolution?
Revolution represents an unrealistic view of human nature (utopian)
Which aspect of human nature was he critical of?
Critical of rationalism
How does Hobbes believe we should be governed?
Via social contract theory of government (Individuals consensually cede authority to a sovereign body)
When can the people complain about the state’s actions (Hobbes)?
If state threatens to kill people
What were Hobbes’ thoughts on government?
Not especially hopeful, but gov prevents people from falling into a state of war
How does Hobbes see legal and physical protection enacted?
Through security, order and some liberty, guaranteed by a strong, authoritative government
How does Hobbes define economic activity?
As the rationalisation of selfishness
What does Hobbes say on the accumulation of wealth?
It is the necessary, but insufficient condition for the modern economy
Hobbes labelled society as a what?
Survival of the fittest system
Why does Hobbes argue an unaccountable sovereign is needed?
Human beings can only live together in peace and without civil conflict, with an unaccountable sovereign
Describe Hobbes’ state of nature.
Not a pretty place: humans left alone quickly descended into nasty, intolerable bickering
What does Hobbes believe humans are driven by?
Self-interest
How does Oakshott outline the role of the state?
Exists to prevent the bad, rather than to create good, keeps its people afloat without fixating on a destination
What does Oakshott say ideology leads to?
Leads to dogma, control and even tyranny (Communism, Fascism)
What is Oakshott’s belief in politics of scepticism?
Faith in trusted institutions and empiricism (experience)
Which type of economy does Oakshott support?
Free market economy
How does Oakshott feel about state intervention in the economy?
Skeptical, prefers individual freedom in the economy and a limited government
Which societal value did Oakshott highlight?
Importance of family
Which approach to life did Oakshott recommend?
Empirical and pragmatic (practical, but flexible)
Hobbes said modern society is what?
Unpredictable and complex
Why did Oakshott say change should be incremental?
For social stability
How did Oakshott describe human nature?
‘Fallible but not terrible’ and ‘Imperfect but not immoral’
What is Oakshott’s ‘politics of faith’?
Human imperfection and sceptical of rationalism (oversimplifies the world)
Which freedom does Rand support?
Negative freedom
What is Rand’s stance on how the state should operate?
Rolling back the frontiers of the state, small state, only role of the state is to protect individual rights
What are Rand’s views on homosexuality and abortion?
‘Right to choose’
How does Rand approach welfare provision?
Opposed to state welfare provision
What does Rand think of Capitalism?
Supports laissez-faire brand of Capitalism
What does Rand’s ideal economy look like?
Tax cuts, privatisation and the free market
How does Rand feel about Anarchism?
Rejected any suggestion of anarchism
Who does Rand say ‘lay at the heart of a successful society’?
Talented individuals
What are Rand’s views on society?
Atomistic society, society does not exist in a practical form, disliked an organic society
Rand thought any collective was what?
A threat to individualism
Why wasn’t Rand opposed to charity?
Because of voluntarism: choice not obligation
What did Rand say we should all be guided by?
Self-interest and ration self-fulfilment (objectivism)
How did Rand describe individuals?
Rational, autonomous individuals, with a moral purpose of self-fulfilment, rejects the idea of human imperfection
Which liberal idea of the state does Nozick reject?
The idea of a social contract
Describe Nozick’s view of the state.
Organic state, with a limited government, ‘Minarchist’ state: outsourcing public services to private companies, little platoons
Nozick thought government growth was what?
A threat to individual freedom
What are Nozick’s views on tax?
Tax is theft, for the most part
What are Nozick’s thoughts on Capitalism?
Supports free-market Capitalism
How does Nozick propose we structure the economy?
Invisible hand, privatisation, natural property rights and self-ownership
How does Nozick feel about welfare provision?
Welfare provision is dependency
How should the state interact with society, in Nozick’s view?
Not at all, individual should be left alone in social and cultural spheres as well
What is Nozick’s ‘Permissive society’?
Relaxed view on abortion, divorce and homosexuality
Was Nozick optimistic or pessimistic about human nature?
Optimistic view of human nature
Why did Nozick acknowledge the need for formal authority?
Dishonesty, theft and violence still factor in (Hobbes)
What were Nozick’s fundamental beliefs of human nature?
Rationalism, but critical of Rawls’ theory of justice rationalism, and individualism
