CONSERVATISM KEY TERMS

Question 1

Pragmatism

Answer 1

Conservatives adopt their values and objectives overtime, according to changes in society.

Question 2

Tradition

Answer 2

The institution, customs and practices of a society that have been developed overtime. They are important because they are God given therefore beyond question.

Question 3

Human imperfection

Answer 3

The traditional conservative belief that humans are flawed in a number of ways, which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves.

According to the conservatives human nature is imperfect(flawed) and unchangeable.

Question 4

Organic Society

Answer 4

A collection of individuals working together in harmony to ensure that the body remains healthy-social cohesion.

Question 5

Hierarchy

Answer 5

The conservative belief that society is naturally organised in fixed and unequal tiers, where one’s social position or status is not based on individual ability.

Question 6

Authority

Answer 6

The idea that people in higher positions in society are best able to make decisions on behalf of other people or society as a whole, authority comes naturally from above…

Question 7

Paternalism

Answer 7

The idea of government by people who are best equipped lead by virtue of their birth ,inheritance and upbringing.

Question 8

Noblesse Oblige

Answer 8

A French phrase that encapsulate the idea that nobility and privilege being with them social responsibilities, notably the duty and obligation to care for those less fortunate.

Question 9

Libertarianism

Answer 9

A political philosophy that emphasises the rights of individuals to liberty, advocating only minimal state intervention in the lives of citizens.

Question 10

Atomism

Answer 10

The idea that society is made up of self-interested and self sufficient individuals(possessive individual).It can also describe increasing social breakdown and isolation.

Question 11

Laissez-faire

Answer 11

Minimal intervention in business and the state by the government.

Question 12

Soft paternalism

Answer 12

entails a paternal attitude towards those whose actions are insufficiently voluntary to be their own such as children and the elderly.

Question 13

Hard paternalism

Answer 13

concerns those whose actions are sufficiently voluntary to be their own e.g. laws-state.

Question 14

Empiricism

Answer 14

A preference for evidence, rather than a theory, and focusing on ‘what is’ rather than ‘what should be’.

Question 15

Radicalism

Answer 15

Radicalism is the belief that there should be significant/extreme political or social change. This changes should occur through revolution.

Question 16

Anti-permissiveness

Answer 16

Refers to a situation in which behaviour that some people might disapprove of is allowed(often by a change of law).Therefore, AP refers to a lack of change in the law or society to allow such behaviour.