Conservatism core themes

Question 1

How do Conservative change?

Answer 1

Change to conserve- this is the principle that indicates that for something valuable to be preserved, it has to be continuously updated and maintained.

Question 2

What is the difference between reactionary and conservative politics?

Answer 2

Reactionary politics seeks to resist all change, to restore what has been lost, conservatism argues such objectives are futile and counter-productive.
For Conservatives, change is inevitable and so must occur in an appropriate manner by drawing upon all that is good which has happened before. A certain type of change is the only way to conserve what is worth conserving

Question 3

What is Edmund Burke’s quote about change?

Answer 3

“A state without the means of change… is without the means of its conservation”

Question 4

What does it mean to see Conservatism as a doctrine of maintenance?

Answer 4

a doctrine which advocates change, but in the form of ongoing change, repair and development rather than outright demolition

Question 5

Why are Conservatives not always Conservative?

Answer 5

Many who fear change see their greatest enemy as free market capitalism, yet market driven change is often largely supported by Conservatives

Question 6

Like liberalism, what was Conservatism a reaction to?

Answer 6

A reaction to the Enlightenment, which is defined by tolerance, equality and individual rights as well as the belief in progressive and that there’s an ideal society
Eventually, it became difficult for politicians to argue against the Enlightenment without appearing intolerant and regressive

Question 7

What was the period of the Enlightenment around the American declaration of Independence and England’s glorious revolution often termed as?

Answer 7

The Whig supremacy

Question 8

What was the first impressions of the French Revolution?

Answer 8

at first it was greeted with enthusiasm

Question 9

What did Conservatives come to think about the French Revolution?

Answer 9

the ruthless imposition of reason could have shocking consequences as thousands of citizens were persecuted/ executed in the name of progress. It now seemed acceptable to criticize the enlightenment without sounding reactionary

Question 10

What new ideology did the French revolution pave?

Answer 10

one that would respect the case for change while warning of its dangers

Question 11

What is Conservative’s view on human nature?

Answer 11

a negative view as they stress human fallibility and flaws; a philosophy of imperfection.

Question 12

What does the Conservative view of human nature make them feel about society?

Answer 12

deny any possibility of a perfect utopian society which comprises of flawless and rational individuals

Question 13

Do Conservatives believe human nature can change?

Answer 13

They highlight humanity ‘as it is’ rather than what it should be- rejects the plastic view of human nature. Human nature is fixed and constant

Question 14

What does Thomas Hobbes think about human nature?

Answer 14

he regards humans as ruthlessly selfish, calculating and competitive. He had a sceptical view, arguing it’s needy and vulnerable to therefore commit destructive acts

Question 15

What does Thomas Hobbes think about the state of nature?

Answer 15

No existence of natural rights and it’s governed by ruthless self interest. Without the restraints of formal authority, relations between humans would be marked by ‘envy, hatred and rude’ leading to a life that is nasty, brutish and short, as they were left to form their own versions of acceptable and unacceptable conducts. However because each man’s right and wrong were most likely different, this would only lead to uncertainty and war

Question 16

What did Burke think about human nature?

Answer 16

rejects that human nature is guided mainly by reason and dismissed any notion that man kind could plan the near-perfect society. Drawing on the biblical principal of sin, Burke highlighted the ‘chasm between our desire and our achievement’ and thus stressed custom, habit and experience as signposts for how we should behave

Question 17

What was the difference between Burke’s and Hobbe’s view on human nature?

Answer 17

1. Burke didn’t think humans were as brutally selfish as Hobbes alleged: fallible yes, terrible no.
2. Burke thought that human beings were capable of kindness and altruism as long as their actions were rooted in history, traditions and the teaching of Christian Church.
3. Burke didn’t agree with Hobbes’s view that human nature was ruthlessly individualistic. Burke argued that human nature was naturally communal, with individuals gaining comfort and support from small communities around them

Question 18

What did Michael Oakeshott think of human nature?

Answer 18

Conservatism was ‘more psychology than ideology’ and that we prefer what is known rather than what is uncertain. Unlike Hobbes however, Oakeshott believed that life without law would be ‘not so much nasty, brutish and short… as noisy, foolish and flawed’.
Human nature was ‘fragile and fallible’, yet also ‘benign and benevolent’ when framed by routine, familiarity and religious principles

Question 19

What did new right thinkers think about human nature?

Answer 19

human’s have a yearning for individual freedom, and its subsequent capacity for enterprise and innovation

Question 20

What did all key thinkers believe about human nature

Answer 20

we need restraint from formal authority and deeply rooted communities and human nature is driven by self interest

Question 21

What is Thomas Hobbes most famous work?

Answer 21

Leviathan

Question 22

What did Thomas Hobbes say that people would eventually agree to?

Answer 22

Because humans aren’t wholly irrational, mankind would eventually realise that the state of nature was not preferable and so would agree to a contract. Under this contract, individuals would give to a sovereign the right to make laws to secure order and security. This would eventually lead to a society under which individuals could make some progress

Question 23

What does Hobbes think the state has to be like to be effective?

Answer 23

autocratic, intimidating and forbidding

Question 24

What are the features of a Conservative society?

Answer 24

Localism
Organicism
Empiricism
Tradition
Hierarchy
Judaeo-Christian morality
Property

Question 25

What is localism?

Answer 25

It’s important to highlight they believe society does exist- they see it as a collection of localised communities, which Burke described as little platoons. These communities provide individuals with security, status and inspiration, while acting as a brake on selfish individualism.
One of Burke’s rejections to the French revolution was it seemed to create one large society that would override local loyalties

Question 26

What is organicism?

Answer 26

Society is not something that can be created, but rather something that emerges organically overtime (and therefore somewhat mysteriously). Unlike liberals who believe in the infinite possibility of planning, Conservatives see the ‘reality’ of society, proof that human life is subject to forces beyond their scope of reason. To summarize society is like a plant and can never be predicted how it may grow

Question 27

What is empiricism?

Answer 27

a preference for evidence over theory and emphasizes what is over what should be, with no clear view of how it will evolve in years to come

Question 28

What does Oakeshott say about Conservative empiricism?

Answer 28

the Conservative society is one that merely aims to stay afloat rather than reach a specific destination

Question 29

Why does a Conservative society put so much importance on tradition?

Answer 29

Thanks, to their belief on empiricism, customs and habits are used to provide security in an uncertain world, with history and experience shaping whatever changes become necessary

Question 30

What does Oakeshott say about tradition?

Answer 30

‘Just as a plant’s new leaves are connected to, dependent on and explained by the plant’s roots and branches, so a society’s present direction stems from its past development

Question 31

Why do Conservatives think hierarchy is important in society?

Answer 31

The imperfections of humanity lead seamlessly to inequalities within human nature. This in turn leads to an unequal society, where ‘the wiser, stronger and more opulent’ establish a hierarchy of power and privilege

Question 32

What do Conservatives stress is the responsibility of those at the top of the hierarchy?

Answer 32

They have a responsibility of paternalism- also known as noblesse oblige- an idea that the relationship between the ruling class and lower class is akin to a relationship of a father and his children and they ruling class take responsibility for the latter

Question 33

What are the two different types of paternalism?

Answer 33

Hard paternalism- elites decide what is best for the rest
Soft paternalism- the elites decisions will usually be preceded by listening to what the non-elites want

Question 34

What is Judeo-Christian morality?

Answer 34

Strong emphasis on marriage, self-contained families and individuals being held accountable. Religious principles - such as the spiritual rewards of compassion and altruism- will help bind individuals together and curb imperfections

Question 35

Why is property so important to Conservative society?

Answer 35

1. support of tradition and continuity as it’s often passed down from generations, providing stability. It’s a tangible expression of Burke’s idea that the ideal society is a ‘partnership between those who are living, those are dead and those yet to be born’.
2. Ongoing maintenance in society
3. property and paternalism link- those with property have a ‘stake’ in society and should take concern for those less fortunate (those without property). Thus, property ownership provides those with it an incentive to exercise a duty of care

Question 36

What do new right thinkers believe about property?

Answer 36

wish to extend property ownership, creating a property owning democracy. For Ran and Nozick, those who own property are generally better placed to resist state led incursions upon their liberty and will be emboldened to justify an unequal society

Question 37

Why is the New Right’s view on society significantly different?

Answer 37

it places particular emphasis on individual liberty. However, it agrees individualism is best pursued in a society that values hierarchy, tradition and Judaeo-Christianity

Question 38

What are the fundamental principles to Conservatives on how a state should be run?

Answer 38

order and authority
Organic origins
A ruling class
The nation state

Question 39

Why is order and authority important to a Conservative state?

Answer 39

The state has a disciplinary focus and their main goal is to provide order, security and authority
Like Hobbes said, they believe without order, there could be no liberty and there can be no order until the emergence of clear laws back by firm authority
This is so important because THE STATE PRECEDES SOCIETY

Question 40

Why is organic origins important to a Conservative state?

Answer 40

They are skeptical that the state arises momentously from a rational conversation. Such states are likely to be based on ideals rather than reality and aren’t empirical.
Therefore, they want a state that emerges gradually and has a pragmatic response to human needs

Question 41

Why do Conservatives like the UK’s uncodified constitution?

Answer 41

because this has evolved gradually as a response to human needs

Question 42

Why is it important to a Conservative (at least, traditional conservatives) state to have a ruling class?

Answer 42

they are comfortable with hierarchy, reflecting the elitist society they endorse. They implicitly acknowledge the ruling class.
Traditional Conservatives were keen to signal the merits of a class that was born and trained to rule the state (mindful of their responsibilities to society). Therefore, the state would avoid social upheaval while maintaining traditional patterns of wealth.

Question 43

Why does Hobbes disagree on the idea of organic origins for a state

Answer 43

he was committed to the idea of ‘government by consent’ and a state can be created ‘rationally’

Question 44

What is a nation-state?

Answer 44

The nation is seen as a mega community, one that enfolded all classes and so provided a natural basis for a state. The state is seen as an expression of nation identity, hence the importance on presidents and monarchy

Question 45

How do new rights feel about the nation state?

Answer 45

they want to strengthen the nation state by ‘rolling back the frontiers’. This is because, if the nation state is burdened by nationalized industries and welfare states, its harder for them to focus on its true purpose of order and security

Question 46

What do Conservatives believe about the economy?

Answer 46

Capitalism nurtures inequality and hierarchy and so Conservative economics have a pro-capitalist flavor.
In support of laissez-faire economics

Question 47

What do traditional conservatives believe about capitalism?

Answer 47

They are sometimes labeled as reluctant supporters of capitalism because capitalism promotes risk and instability, while they like stability. While, they understand any attack on capitalism is an attack on property, inequality and hierarchy, they are unsure if the markets are most effective when left alone by governments, because that requires an optimistic view of market forces. They have solved this dilemma by supporting moderated capitalism: protectionism through tariffs and duties. They have been more recently drawn to Keynesian economics.

Question 48

What is protectionism consistent with?

Answer 48

emphasis on a national identity

Question 49

What is the new right’s view on the economy?

Answer 49

They are more supportive of the free market economy and so support privatisation

Question 50

How does the New Right’s view on the economy compliment traditional conservatism?

Answer 50

By disengaging from the economy, the new right believe the state can focus on its true purpose of security. Similarly, they believe the free market will be a prosperous one, which might promote popular capitalism, but also it would fund greater state spending on the police, army and essentials to defend a conservative society