Conservatism Key Thinkers Flashcards
What is the profile of Thomas Hobbes?
Wrote the Leviathan, believed humans are led astray, wrote during the English civil war.
What did Hobbes believe about human nature?
Individuals are driven by self interest, Human nature is shaped by restless desire for acquisition of goods.
What was Hobbes’ quote about human nature, showing their selfishness?
Life would be ‘Nasty, brutish and short’ if humans were left to their own devices.
What did Hobbes believe about the state?
Safety and security are impossible without law and order. He was comfortable with a hierarchical state. Power should be concentrated.
What did Hobbes believe about Society?
Natural chaos stems from absence of authority. Individuals render to a sovereign, making a society.
What did Hobbes believe about the Economy?
The state should regulate the economy to prevent conflict and ensure stability. Property is the creation of the state. Human effort and industry are essential for wealth creation.
What is the profile of Edmund Burke?
Wrote around the time of French and US revolution. Change taken with great caution, established great obligation.
What did Burke believe about Human nature?
Mankind tends to fail more than succeed. Humans are fallible, French revolution was based on a utopia, not a realistic view of human nature.
What did Burke believe about the State?
Comfortable with an elitist state, comfortable with a ruling class, born and bred to rule the state. A hierarchical government must be limited by a constitution.
What did Burke believe about Society?
A ruling class was inevitable and desirable. ‘Little platoons’ rather than centralised structures. Society is complex, based on history, needs cautious change.
What did Burke believe about the Economy?
Support of private property, free markets. The free market had evolved over time, and shouldn’t be altered. No central planning, excessive government intervention. Free trade due to the British empire.
What is the profile of Michael Oakeshott?
20th century - lived through two world wars, believed in tradition and empiricism. Modern society is complex and unpredictable.
What did Oakeshott believe about human nature?
Humanity is able to secure peace and improvement.
What is Oakeshott’s quote about Human nature?
Humans are ‘fallible but not terrible.’
What did Oakeshott believe about the State?
The state should be to prevent bad, rather than create good. He believed in a Hierarchical state, ending anarchy allows society to emerge.
What was Oakeshott’s quote about the state?
State is ‘an end in itself,’ and ‘a vessel that rescues passengers from anarchy.’
What did Oakeshott believe about Society?
Other ideologies led society to impatience and frustration, conservatives have a greater appreciation of life, and accept imperfections.
What did Oakeshott believe about the Economy?
Free market is organic, works best when left to operate without interference. State welfare - should be modest, not disrupt evolution of society.
What is the profile of Ayn Rand?
Wrote in the mid 20th century, objectivism, is a response to communism and fascism. Believed we should roll back the state.
What did Rand believe about Human Nature?
Individuals are autonomous, guided by self interest, self fulfilment. Talented individuals, not ambitious governments make successful societies.
What did Rand believe about the State?
Laissez faire - rolling back frontiers of the state. Liberty is impossible without order and security, only a state can provide that.
What was Rand’s quote about the State?
‘Small state is the strong state.’
What did Rand believe about Society?
Society didn’t exist in a practical form, it’s a loose collection of individuals. Atomist society, individualism.
What did Rand believe about the Economy?
Laissez faire capitalism, tax cuts, deregulation, fully free market with no government intervention. Property rights are fundamental. Entrepreneurs are the drivers of economic growth.
What is the profile of Robert Nozick?
Neocon - Mid 20th century. Individualism, taxation is theft, humans are egotistical, believes the only type of state is one of the most important things.
What did Nozick believe about Human Nature?
Individuals are the authors of their abilities, they should be left alone. Preservation of life, liberty and property is one of the most important things. Dishonesty and theft aren’t the main characteristics of humanity.
What did Nozick believe about the State?
Minarchist state - involved outsourcing public services to private companies. Allows a multitude of self fulfilment communities to emerge. Privatisation and deregulation allows state to refocus.
What did Nozick believe about Society?
Property rights are essential to be enjoyed by the majority of individuals, property is part of self determination. Minarchist society - each community would be free to practice its’ values.
What did Nozick believe about the Economy?
Taxation is theft. Self sufficient communities. State is a night watchman, so is opposed to redistribution of taxation. Public health, free market capitalism. Voluntary choice, not state control.
