conservatism and human nature Flashcards
What do all conservatives agree about human nature?
That all humans are imperfect, morally, psychologically and intellectually
human nature as self interested for traditional conservatives
Hobbes- humans are selfish and relentless with the need to acquire goods, we are inherently self interested. Hobbes believed the ‘state of nature’ (a theoretical construct describing human nature before society and govt) to be a ‘war of every man on every man’. Hobbes believed human nature was “nasty, brutish and short” and thus humans are in need of a strong state to govern them.
Similarly, burke because of this rejected utopian political principles of equality and fraternity that emerged out of the french revolution in his book, “reflections of the french revolution” 1790
Neo- liberals on human imperfection and selfishness
Ayn Rand condemned altruism (putting others above yourself) in her book, Atlas Shrugged, she stated, “i will never live for the sake of another man or ask another man to live for the sake of mine”. She believed it would create an artificial sense of obligation that went against rational self interest.
her idea of objectivism is that we should have rational egoism, individuals should act in their OWN RATIONAL SELF INTEREST
One nation conservatives on human imperfection and self interest
what do conservatives disagree with on human nature?
Positive V negative view of human nature and rationale
traditional conservatives- pessimistic view of human nature
Hobbes and Burke strongly believed humans to be emotional and irrational beings, thus in need of a strong state to govern them. In ‘leviathan’, hobbes argues freedom with no authority would have disastrous consequences, as the ‘state of nature would wage a war of ‘every man against every man’
Similarly, Burke because of this argued against democracy, “the inclinations of man should frequently be thwarted” because we are inherently irrational
Neo-liberals, rational positive view of human nature
Rand emphasised human capacity for rationalism, holding a less flawed view of human nature, “if life on earth is his purpose, he has the right to live as a rational being: nature forbids him from the irrational”
One nation- negative but complex view of human nature
people were irrational but not immoral. humans were “fallible but not terrible,” “imperfect but not immoral”
wisdom can be achieved through error. humans have the capacity for growth
conservatives disagree on human nature
whether humans belong in collectives or should exist as individuals
Traditional conservatives on humans as a collective
humans are more of a collective, they emphasise the importance of established social institutions like the family, church, community. they believe these traditional social structures are important for maintaining social order, moral values and etc. Burke, society is a contract between, “those who are living, those who are dead and those who are yet to be born”
neo liberals and humans in an atomistic society
rand adopts an atomistic individual ideal, maintaining since humans are rational, they can be self reliant and rational in their decision making.
neo liberals strongly oppose all forms of altruism or welfare financed by taxation. she believed in this opposition to external coercion of an individual as the ‘non aggression principle’
similarly, nozick argued that ‘individuals have rights and there are things no person of group may do to violate them ‘
one nation conservatives on society- noblesse oblige
one nation conservatives like cameron believed in noblesse oblige (the idea that wealth, power and prestige comes with responsibility)
disraeli also believed in this, and this can be seen though the passage of the passage of the 1875 artisans dwelling act, which helped provide for the reconstruction of british slums
