Conservatism Flashcards
Hobbes on Human Nature
“Humans are driven by a perpetual restless desire for power”
Naturally selfish to the detrement of others. Negative view of Traditional Conservatives
Oakeshott on Human Nature
“Fallible but not terrible” “imperfect but not immoral”
Similarly negative like Hobbes but much more forgiving
Rand on Human Nature
Essentially a positive liberal view called ‘objectivism’
We can guide ourselves to success through “rational self-fulfillment”
New right break with trad cons
Hobbes on state
We need a “leviathan” state as without it life would be “nasty, brutish and short” and there would be a “perpetual war of every man against his neighbour”
Oakeshott on state
Like hobbes but again less severe. State should “prevent the bad rather than create the good”. In his NAUTICAL METAPHOR the state should just help keep us afloat
Nozick/New Right thinking on the state
Nozick calls for an “ultra-minimal state” but where it exists (areas like defence and public order) it should be very strong.
Thatcher said she had “rolled back the frontiers of the state”
Burke on Society
Need for paternalism and hierarchy. The French revolution was bad as it removed aristocracy but this was their fault for failing to apply proper noblesse obliege. This set up is best in “little platoons” of people
Disreili and Oakeshott on Society
Dis “the palace is not safe the cottage is unhappy”
Oake “humdrum business of everyday life”
Fairly similar on paternalism and little platoons
Nozick and Rand on society
Belief in Atomosim society just loose collection of individuals (Thatcher “there is no such thing as society”) As such not the same sense of hierarchy (though inequality fine) and certainly no need for paternalism
Nozick describes self sufficient communities which would form (little platoons?) But they would be much more anarchistic and free e.g. could well become socialist
Rand on the economy
“Money permits no deals except those to mutual benefit by the unforced judgement of the traders”
V pro free market
Disraeli on the economy
“There can be economy only when there is effeciency”
Trad cons beleive in free market but fear total laissez faire approach due to negative view of human nature. As such did things like factory act of 1874 which limited factory owners rights and powers
Is Conservatism and Ideology? (Yes)
Has core principles: organicism, hierarchy, negative view of HN, belief in strong state and empiricism is better than theory. ON toryism based on paternalism, support of HoL due to belief in tradition pro border control due to belief in order.
New right v ideological. Core beliefs of laissez faire capitalism and atomism. Developed as response to post war consensus politics
Conservatism an ideology? (No)
Trad cons say they are just pragmatic and make decision on circumstance. Crossland (not a con) “conservatives conserve no principles”
Also they have a deep mistrust of theory and ideals and so unlikely to commit to something ideological. Oakeshott says we must focus on “keeping the ship afloat at all costs” rather than “fixating on a port that may not exist” nautical metaphot
