Conservatism - Key Principles Flashcards
1
Q
What is Conservatism?
A
- Often called the ‘politics of maintenance’, it is a durable ideology that has faced a number of changes - it is widely misunderstood despite this durability.
- There are two main paradoxes with conservatism - it is a form of change, and is not just about conserving or about avoiding reform; it is about changing to conserve
- This idea of changing to conserve iterates that changes that occur are done in order to conserve what is good about how society is run and to preserve what is already part of their idealised society - change can occur, but only in the correct way
2
Q
What makes conservative politics different to reactionary politics?
A
- Reactionary politics looks to resist all change and restore what has been lost, whereas conservatives argue that this objective is futile and counter-productive
- Change is viewed as inevitable, but what does matter is that the changes that occur happen in the appropriate manner - mainly about drawing on what was good about what came before
- They assert that a certain type of change is the only way to conserve what is worth conserving
3
Q
What is a key idea of conservatism?
A
- All things need constant attention, nurturing and renewal and requires ongoing maintenance, such as how living organisms cannot survive remaining in a state of inertia (e.g. babies must grow) and how ancient buildings must be preserved with action and interference.
- It advocates change in the form of ongoing repair and development rather than outright demolition and construction of something entirely new
4
Q
What is one of the other paradoxes of conservatism?
A
- The other paradox of conservatism is that in the UK, it is not the same thing as Conservatism - the ideology is not synonymous with the ideas of the party; the basic reason for this is that it does not just uphold the principles of conservatism, but also employs and reflects many liberal principles
- The conservative party is therefore ideologically eclectic (formed of a range of ideologies / ideas) as are most electorally successful parties
5
Q
Why are not all Conservatives conservative?
A
- Not all conservatives are Conservative - many of those who fear change view free-market capitalism as an enemy, due to its iconoclastic side effects such as globalisation
- Market-driven change does however find most of it support with the Conservative Party and its opposition amongst progressive (supposedly) parties like Labour; the Labour party have become increasingly defensive / conservative in respect to the NHS, the welfare state and the European Union membership
- Conservatism is therefore a more subtle doctrine
6
Q
What are the origins of Conservatism?
A
- It exists almost as a reaction to radical political change - specifically the Enlightenment due to its focus on remorseless progress
- It came out of the Revolutions of Europe and as a response to them
- It began to take form as a concept following the French Revolution, which was a revolution intended to replace the monarchy with a written constitution
- Conservatives then began to promote the ideas of ‘changing to conserve’, which according to Edmund Burke, the lack of which would create ‘a state that without the means of some change is without the means of conservation’ or a state lacking an opposition to radicalism
- As opposed to liberal thinkers, conservatives believe human nature is limited and flawed
- Thomas Hobbes took a sceptical view of human nature in his understanding of the ‘State of the Nature’
7
Q
Conservatism and Human Nature
A
- Conservatism antagonises progressive ideologies; believe more in the idea of a philosophy of imperfection, stressing fallibility and fragility (weak) - makes mistakes, and reject the optimism of socialism and liberalism for human nature. Inherently weak, do not consistently improve.
- No utopia; no description of humans as they should be, only as they are - rejects the malleable view of human society from socialism and dislikes the idea of humanity’s ability to be remoulded given the correct society or environment.
- Nature is fixed and constant - politicians should accommodate reality, not alter, allowing for the imperfection of humanity. Nuances = subtlety - other side ideas involved in the view of human nature
8
Q
Key thinker 1 - Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) and Human Nature
A
- Hobbes believed that human nature was innately ruthlessly selfish, calculating and competitive, and without the restraints of authority the relations of human beings would be marked by war and hatred, leading to short and brutal lives. Society would be chaos.
- He argued that underpinning human nature with rationality would create contracts between warring factions, leading to the formation of states, admitting the possibility of rational calculations and the concept of mankind achieving satisfactory outcomes. Humans cannot be in conflict forever, and our practicality leads to compromise. He is an example of enlightenment thinking.
9
Q
Key Thinker 2 - Edmund Burke (1729-97) and Human Nature (+contrasts with Hobbes)
A
- Has a stronger claim as he was a more purist conservative thinker - his diatribe (rant) on the French Revolution criticized the event and the Enlightenment thinking (conservatism emerges with the criticisms of the enlightenment creating revolutionary periods with many horrible events). Rejected the idea of human nature being guided by reason and the ability of humans to plan a near-perfect society (utopia is impossible). Custom, habit and experiences should be signposts for our behavior; we don’t always fully achieve what we desire.
- Both Hobbes and Burke were skeptical of their own views, ridiculing any idea of a saintly or flawless human nature; they did have distinct ideas of human imperfection. Burke believed that humans were fallible but not terrible, and had wisdom, altruism and kindness within them along as their actions were rooted in tradition and religion. Finally, Burke did not believe humans were ruthlessly individualistic, and that humans are naturally communal and gain comfort from their communities. Burke is softer towards humans, and is more reflective and realistic.
10
Q
Key thinker 3 - Michael Oakeshott (1901-1990) and Human Nature
A
Conservatism’s interpretation of human nature was conservatism itself. Oakeshott believed conservatism was more psychology than ideology, and so we have an instinctive preference for the known, and innate fear of the unknown. Differently to Hobbes, he believed a society without law would be noisy, foolish and flawed rather than nasty and brutal. Human nature is fragile and fallible, but also benign and benevolent when framed with familiarity and religion.
11
Q
Key thinker 4 + 5 - Ayn Rand (1905-82) and Robert Nozick (1938-2002) and Human Nature
A
- To create freedom, we invent and enterprise - this is the foundation of human nature. However, traditional conservatives and the New Right agreed even the most enterprising individuals were freedom loving community people, requiring the restraint of formal authority and deep rooted community. This links 20th century New Right politics and Hobbesian philosophy - both agree human nature is driven by self-interest, and both agree that human nature should be contained to maintain peace and stability in human affairs.
12
Q
Conservatives on Human Nature
A
- ‘Philosophy of imperfection’ - emphasises the frailty and fragility of human nature and highlights
humanity as it is rather than how it should be; rejects malleable view of human nature - Human nature is fixed and constant and politicians should accommodate this reality - stress on
imperfection of human nature - Life is nasty, short and brutish due to war, envy and hatred caused by a lack of state -
government should control people, and warring people form contracts to create a state - Human nature cannot be rational and humans cannot create a utopian society
- Chasm between desire and achievement and stressed custom, habit and experience as a
signpost for behaviour - Sceptical of human nature and ridiculed any idea that human nature was flawless or saintly
- Human nature is the essence of conservatism itself - it is driven by self-interest, but needs
a state to regulate it in order to provide some peace and stability in human affairs - Inequality is needed in society to create ambition and motivation
13
Q
Conservatism - organicism
A
- Society is not something that can
be created - it emerges gradually,
organically, and mysteriously - Conservative scepticism rather
than liberal rationalism - liberals
suggest an infinite possibility of
planning and arrangement because they see man as self-determining - However, conservatives see the reality of an unplanned organic society, and is responsive to what humans do and society is unpredictable in its growth
- Organic analogy of functionalism; if any part of society stops working, institutions stop working and interdependence is lost - all parts are needed
14
Q
Conservatism - Paternalism
A
- Society is not egalitarian, as imperfections of humanity lead seamlessly to inequalities in society and a hierarchy of power and privilege is created and even the smallest platoons have a minority acting as authority for the majority
- However, this comes with responsibility -the compromise of paternalism, or noblesse oblige comes from the conservative principle that the relationship between society’s stronger elements and weaker elements is like that of a father and child relationship and the former having an organic responsibility for the latter
15
Q
Conservatism - Localism
A
- Society is a collection of localised
communities (little platoons - Burke) - These communities provide
individuals with security, status
and inspiration while acting as a
break on selfish individualism - Your local community is your
priority
