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Conservatism Flashcards

1
Q

Conservative view on Human Nature

A

Human Imperfection - there is no such thing as a perfect society

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2
Q

Edmund Burke background

A

Revolutionary thinking - American war of Independence (1729-97) -however, attacked and critiqued the enlightenment as being based on abstract philosophy - based on a utopian and unrealistic society

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3
Q

Burke beliefs on French Rev

A
  • It disregarded all of history and tradition
  • ‘Reflections on the Revolutions in France’ (1790) defined various tenants of conservative thought - human imperfection, empiricism, organism, tradition
  • disagreed with the emphasis on equality proposing instead all organic societies have a ‘ruling class’ - with a paternalistic role to govern
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4
Q

What did Burke stress in his writing

A

Mankind’s fallibility and the tendency to fail more than succeed.

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5
Q

What was Burke’s belief of society and the government

A

It was more like a plant than a machine - mysterious dynamism beyond planning and that change that happened was continuous and organic

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6
Q

Names of Tory MPs who put conservatism into practice

A

William Pitt (1759) George Canning and Robert Peel

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7
Q

what did the tory MPs who put conservatism into practice do

A

liked order and property and the idea of society as a multitude of small communities and defended paternalism

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8
Q

Burke phrases/ soundbites

A

‘change to conserve’ and ‘little platoons’

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9
Q

What did Canning do that adhered to Conservative thought

A

supported Catholic emancipation - allowing them to participate in Parliament - also helped with the abolishment of slavery - small changes to avoid revolution

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10
Q

What did Peel do that adhered to Conservative thought

A

Supported the Great Reform Act of 1832 - allowing representation in Westminster of small industrial towns and established metropolitan police in London - focus on security

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11
Q

Why did One Nation emerge

A
  • The threat of socialism

- greater demands for democracy and less aristocracy

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12
Q

What did Disraeli believe concerning the connection between classes

A

societies classes were all members of a national family - for Disraeli the nation was not against the status quo it was the ESSENCE of the status quo - united by an imperialist sense (?)

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13
Q

How did Disraeli defend the status of the ruling class

A

As it was their responsibility to ‘elevate the condition of the people’ - if this was recognized by all classes then they would be harmonious

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14
Q

What did Oakshott write

A

On being Conservative (1962)

The Politics of Faith and Politics of Scepticism

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15
Q

How did Oakshott differ from Burke - what did he say?

A

He was less pessimistic/ cynical - saw women and men as ‘fallible but not terrible, imperfect but not immoral’

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16
Q

What did Oakshott say about societies?

A

Humans were incapable of perfect societies but humanity could still serve ‘both pleasure and improvement through the humdrum business of everyday life’

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17
Q

What did Oakshott say concerning Conservative thought

A

it was based on an empirical and practical approach - through experience rather than abstract philosophy

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18
Q

What did Oakshott argue in The Politics of Faith and Politics of Scepticism

A

that the state existed to ‘prevent the bad rather than create the good’ - grounded around his cynical view of human nature

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19
Q

What did Nozick say about Oakshott

A

he had a ‘lazy mentality’

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20
Q

Who were the Neoliberals

A

Frederick von Hayek, Robert Nozick and Ayn Rand

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21
Q

What were the aims of neoliberals

A

To roll back the state and create a free-market economy -n Nozick and Rand this would create freedom and lead to the return of economic growth - a vibrant and prosperous society

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22
Q

What did neoliberals want to see

A
  • drastic reduction in taxation
  • tighter control of government spending
  • end the dependency culture arising from the expense of the welfare state
  • deregulation and privatization of services
  • reduce the power of trade unions
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23
Q

Name a neoconservative

A

Roger Scruton

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24
Q

What were the aims of neoconservatives

A

-to restore authority, national identity and a society informed by Judeo-Christian morality

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25
What did neoconservatives want to see
- a tougher approach to law and order - a more robust approach to national defence - a less tolerant attitude to immigration ( as it challenges national identity) - anti-permissive social policies (on abortion and homosexuality) and the promotion of a traditional family structure - supported by the states benefits system
26
What umbrella term do neoconservatives and neoliberals come under
New Right
27
How did Nozick focus on individual rights
he proposed that individuals owned themselves and their 'bodies, talents and labour' therefore against slavery
28
What term did Rand coin concerning rational individualism
Objectivism
29
What are the four tenants of Objectivism
reality, reason, self-interest and capitalism
30
How did Rand explain Objectivism
As rationally - each individual would put their self-interest first, therefore altruism is immoral - and we understand reality as objective (you can't shape it though emotion)
31
What did Rand believe was the purpose of the government
They protect the individual's rights to ownership and let the powerful flourish
32
What did Rand say about self-interest
'man is an end to himself, not the means to the ends of others'
33
What was Rand's defining work and what did it outline
Atlas Shrugged (1957) - outlined that talented individuals, rather than ambitious governments lead to a successful society
34
What was Rand's later work and what did that outline
The Virtue of Selfishness (1964) - explained the philosophical system of objectivism in detail - that we should be guided by self-interest and rational self-fulfilment
35
What New Right term did Rand become associated with
Atomism - a society defined by millions of autonomous individuals - an autonomy or space or vague society - A TENSION WITH TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVES
36
What did Rand's work do
justified a society was merely a collection of individuals
37
What did objectivism do
linked Rand's philosophy with the New Right's laissez-faire capitalist system
38
What was Rand's self-stated philosophy
Libertarian - defended the individual right to choose sexuality however, later Conservative stating 'liberty was impossible without law and order' and supported Goldwater in 1964
39
What is the tension between trad and new conservatives concerning the economy
Traditional conservatives want order, stability and continuity whereas more modern ones prefer the risk and innovation from free-market capitalism
40
Why are traditional conservatives sceptical of free market
- a cynical view of human nature | - think there should be further involvement from the state to ensure they are run in the correct way
41
What economic system is preferred by Conservatives
moderated laissez-faire which is tempered with state intervention - PROTECTIONISM
42
What economics did the New Right want
free-markets - Thatcher and Reagan era 1980 - were influenced by Hayek and Freidman
43
State role in economics according to New Right
- not intervene too much - allows the state to focus on the role of providing law and order - free-market is a more prosperous system - allows for more spending on police
44
Localism
Society is a collection of localised communities which provide status and security - Burke 'little platoons'
45
Organicism
Society emerges gradually and grows in a way that can't be predicted
46
Empiricism
(evidence over theory) use the past experiences to inform decisions
47
Tradition
customs and conventions guide decisions and changes - changes must be slow and rooted in the past
48
Hierarchy
imperfections of humans lead to inequality with the minority of the 'strong' rising to the top includes Paternalism - the responsibility that comes with being the strong
49
Conservative views on property
inheritance is justified- continuity and tradition
50
New Right views on property
emphasize individual liberty
51
main Conservative views on the state
- order and authority - organic origins - there is a ruling class - the nation state is important (One Nation)
52
The state - order and authority views
the state has a disciplinary function to provide order security and authority - stems from Hobbes view on human nature - without the state there is no order - Hobbs said individual rights were dependent on law and order
53
The state - organic origins
Although Hobbes stressed 'government by consent' most conservatives are sceptical that the state arises from rational discussion preferring the idea of an unwritten constitution to allow the state to evolve freely
54
The state - there is a ruling class
Comfortable with an elitist society
55
what do new right and neo-liberals think about the nation-state
Believe in a MINARCHIST STATE - could be burdened by nationalized industries which takes away from the true function of providing order
56
Hobbes quotes on human nature
life as 'nasty, brutish and short' - leviathan 1651 | 'ruthlessly selfish, calculating and competitive'
57
Burke views on human nature
- rejects being guided by reason instead prefer custom, habit and experience believed humans were capable of kindness and wisdom
58
Oakshott contact views on human nature to Hobbes quote
life without law would 'not be nasty, brutish and short but noisy, foolish and flawed'
59
Hobbes views on human nature
- the state of nature is anarchic without authority | - believed humans would form a contract so humans are rational
60
Oakshott views on human nature
believed it was fragile and fallible but benign and benevolent with routine
61
New Right on human nature
people are 'pack animals' who need restraint by authority
62
What is Michael Oakeshott's view on Human Nature?
Humanity is at its best when focused on the routine of every-day life
63
What is Ayn Rand's view on Human Nature?
We are guided by self-interest and the pursuit of self-happiness
64
What is Robert Nozick's view on human Nature?
Egotistical - Humans are driven by selfish nature
65
Who states that the state 'arises contractually from individuals who seek order and security
Hobbes
66
What did Nozick say about the state?
the state ' should merely outsource, renew and reallocate contracts and to provide contracts to private companies providing public services'
67
What did Rand say about the state?
he state ' should confine itself to; law, order and national security'
68
What did Oakshott say about the state?
he state should 'be guided by tradition and practicality'
69
Why do conservatives want to preserve traditions?
Customs and habits provide security in an unstable world
70
What type of family structure does conservatism vouch for?
A nuclear in an ideal society
71
What does inherited property show in the mind of Burke?
It is a tangible expression of that connects the living, dead and yet to be born
72
What do New Right conservatives want to do with property?
To extend it and create a 'property-owning democracy'
73
Why is there an emphasis on helping those less fortunate within one nation conservatism?
Because every citizen is part of the same national 'community' and the revolutionary ideas (Marxism) was not an alternative to the status quo but an essence of the status quo, therefore One Nation tories felt like they had to appeal to the more vulnerable
74
Oakshott on thought
'psychology not philosophy'
75
What is 'Atomism'
That society is made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals (also known as egoistical individualism).
76
What is the role of the 'Noblesse oblige'
The duty of the wealthy and privileged to look after those less fortunate.
77
What is Anti-permissiveness
A rejection of permissiveness, which is the belief that people should make their own moral choices, suggesting there is no objective right and wrong.
78
What is Human imperfection
The traditional conservative belief that humans are flawed in a number of ways which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves.
79
What is 'Empiricism'
The idea that knowledge comes from real experience and not from abstract theories.

Ideologies (2 decks)

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