Conservatism key thinkers Flashcards
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas hobbes was a philospher that has been linked to both conservatism and liberalism
Hobbes was born in 1558 in the wiltshire town of malmsbury
His father was a curate
Hobbes remained close to the cavendish family who provided him with education until his death at tha age of 91
Thomas Hobbes key ideas
Thomas Hobbes Human nature
Cynical: individuals are selfish, driven by a restless and ruthless desire for supremacy and security.
Extremely negative: Selfish humans areindlvidualistically
driven by self-interest
Thomas Hobbes society
There can be no ‘society’ until the creation of a state brings order and authority to human affairs. Life until then is ‘nasty, brutish and short’
Thomas Hobbes the state
The state arises ‘contractually’ soical contract between sovereign and subjects from individuals who seek order and security. To serve its purpose, the state must be autocratic and awesome and guarentee the rule of lawa and avoid state of war
Thomas Hobbes the economy
Constructive and enduring economic activity is impossible without a state guaranteeing order and security.The sovereign brings order and authority, allowing the economy to develop
TH key book
Leviathan published in 1651
the king leviathan represents the state and his body represents a society made up of sovereign individuals who have willingly surrerened liberty in return for societal order. The idea that individuals give up their freedoms to an all powerful sovereign or leviathan
When people are threatened they have the right to kill
What event is associated with his thinking
The english civil war - heavily influenced hobbes key ideas - it established that humans are imperfect and ruthlessly self interested and that they desire power and material gratification and are distrustful of others
TH state of nature
The state of nature refers to society before law - leads to chaos
Thus if bad leader must obey otherwise leads to a state of nature = chaos
TH key quote on state of nature
“life in a state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”
Without strong law and order and laws in place it would become a state of nature
“Government is necessary not because man is naturally bad but because by nature man is more individualistic than social”
Without strong law and order and laws in place it would become a state of nature
TH quote
“the condition of man is a condition of war of everyone against everyone”
Edmund Burke
1728-1797
, Irish born politician was a whig MP,
His ideas have influenced both liberals and conservatives,
He is now seen by many as being the founder of conservatism
Edmund Burke key ideas
- Change has to be undertaken with great caution, mindful of the delicate balance inherent in an organic society
- Tradition and empiricism should be respected because they represent practices passed down from one generation to the next
Edmund Burke human nature
Sceptical: the crooked timber of humanity’ is marked by a gap between aspiration and achievement. We may conceive of perfection but we are unable to achieve it.
Edmund Burke society
Society is organic and multi-faceted, comprising a host of small communities and organisations ‘little platoons’
Edmund Burke on the state
The state arises organically and should be aristocratic, driven by a hereditary elite reared to rule in the interests of all.
Edmund Burke on the economy
Trade should involve ‘organic’ free markets and laissez-faire capitalism.
Micheal Oakeshot
Micheal oakeshot was a philosopher and political theorist, son of Joseph francis oaksehot, a civil servant and member of fabian society and frances maude, He is from the same family as isabel oakeshot, Attended st egorges school 1912-1920, read history at cambridge, lived through ww2, worked at oxford,cambridge and lse, married three times and had numerous affairs evevn with his sons girlfriend
Micheal Oakeshot key ideas
- Peoples actions should be guided by pragmatism rather than by ideology
- Theories and ideologies oversimplify complex situations
MO human nature
MO society
MO on the state
MO on the economy
Rand Ayan
Rand Ayn key ideas
- People should pursuse their own happiness as their highest moral aim
- People should work hard to achieve a life of purpose and productiveness
Rand Ayn human nature
‘Objectivist’: we are - and ought to be - guided by rational self-interest and the pursuit of self-fulfilment
Rand Ayn society
In so far as it exists at all, society is atomistic: the mere sum total of its individuals. Any attempt to restrict individuals in the name of society should be challenged.
Rand Ayn state
The state should confine itself to law, order and national security. Any attempt to promote ‘positive liberty’, via further state intervention, should be resisted.
Rand Ayn economy
Free-market capitalism is an expression of ‘objectivist’ individualism and should not be hindered by the state.
Robert Nozick
Robert nozick was a us philosopher and right wing libertarian and was one of the most important intellectual figures in the development of the new right
Robert Nozick key ideas
- Individuals in society cant be treated as a thing or used against their will as a resource
- Individuals own their bodies, talents, abilities and labour
Robert Nozick human nature
Egotistical: individuals are driven by a quest for ‘self-ownership’, allowing them to realise their full potential.
Robert Nozick society
Society should be geared to individual self-fulfilment. This may lead to a plethora of small, variable communities reflecting their members’ diverse tastes and philosophies.
Robert Nozick state
The minarchist state should merely outsource, renew and reallocate contracts to private companies providing public services.
Robert Nozick economy
The minarchist state should detach itself from a privatised and deregulated economy, merely arbitrating disputes between private economic organisations.
