Conservatism Non-Core Questions Flashcards
To what extent do conservatives have differing views on pragmatism?
Pragmatism rejects theories in favour of experience
Differing views of pragmatism when applied to society and the state
One-nation and traditional cons are pragmatic, arguing that established institutions and customs will preserve society. Oakeshott believed theories oversimplify complexity of society, eg failure of regimes of 20th century. Burke glorifies empiricism as it represents practices tried and tested, linking to organicism. Disraeli determined to uphold traditional institutions, yet still flexible in improving conditions for workers
New Right is less pragmatic regarding society, ideologically rejected state power. Robert Nozick allowed only a ‘night watchman’ state, based on liberal thinking that the individual is sovereign. This contrast one-nation, opting for the theory that a minimal state will lead to social cohesion, rather than tested state power in the past
Differing views on human nature thus need (or not) for pragmatism
Traditionals hold a pessimistic view on human nature and thus need for pragmatism. Oakeshott argued govs should be pragmatic because people don’t have mental capacity to comprehend complex world, linking to Hobbesian views that man are easily led astray by impulse and self-interest
New Right believe that human can still be rational despite self-interest — Ayn Rand’s ‘non-aggression’ opposed traditional state use of force as people should pursue ethical individualism, which pragmatism limits
Differing views of pragmatism with regard to economy
New Right deplores economic pragmatism, instead opting for Laissez-Faire ideology — Rand called for an ‘uncontrolled, unregulated laissez-faire [economy]’. Use of neo-liberal supply-side policies by Thatcher in 1980s underlines this rejection to economic pragmatism
One-nation cons, however, favour economic pragmatism, interventionist policies, based off of customs of a strong state. One-nation govs of 1951-64 employed Keynesian demand-management for maintain high employment levels. One-nation thought did emerge in response to laissez-faire capitalism, emphasising conflict between the two
To what extent do conservatives have differing views on organic society?
Organic society theory views society as a living organism with different aspects working in harmony
Disagreement over importance of tradition in an organic society
Traditional conservatives believe organic societies are based on tried and tested institutions, held n place by wisdom of the past. Burke thought that respect for tradition ensures continuity and duties to keep society functioning (empiricism)
New Right, however, contest this importance of tradition, opposing traditional values of hierarchy and paternalism — Rand believed these restricted freedom, undermining social stability, thus tradition is detrimental to organicism. Neo-libs do, however, endorse family and religion, but not customs which impose on freedom
Disagree on importance of a state in organic society
Disagreement within New Right: neo-cons advocate an authoritarian state to ensure anti-permissiveness and restore authority if tradition structures, whilst neo-libs reject a strong state — Nozick: ‘no state more extensive than the minimal state ca be justified’, thus liberty is more important
Traditional and one-nation agree with conservative New-Right, arguing for a strong state to enforce organicism — Hobbes: ‘give [a man] an inch and he’ll take an ell’, thus without a firm government society will deteriorate
Differing views on organic society resulting from diverging views on human nature
Traditionals emphasise importance of strong state and tradition in organic society due to pessimistic views of man in the state of nature, thus requirement of order — Hobbes claimed people establish govs as life in nature is ‘nasty, brutish and short’, thus authority necessary to preserve order due to our ‘restless desire for power’. Neo-cons similarly, argue for harsh punishments to tackle public dissent
Neo-libs contest this pessimism, arguing that humans are self-interested in a rational way, thus organicism does not require a strong state — Ayn Rand’s ‘non-aggression’ and individualism
To what extent do conservatives have differing views of paternalism?
Paternalism is governance by those best equipped by virtue of their birth and ‘innate’ abilities
Differing views of paternalism applied to the state and society
As a traditional, Burke argued that the ‘natural aristocracy’ presided over society like a father due to innate abilities — soft vs hard paternalism. One-nations, similarly, argued that the privileged have a duty to help the poor, as said by Disraeli. These two agree on the ‘noblesse oblige’
Neo-libs reject paternalism on grounds that it gives state too much power over society — Nozick claimed only justifiable state is a ‘night watchman’ state as society should be formed of sovereign individuals, thus paternalism is too authoritarian. Neo-cons would argue the opposite due to the need to reassert authority
Difference over paternalism with regard to the economy
Both sub-strands of New Right reject economic state intervention: neo-cons seek to reassert political authority and neo-libs advocate atomistic individualism, linked to belief that the free market is a guarantee of autonomy — Rand’s objectivism advocates laissez-faire and rejects welfare on basis of ‘non-aggression’
Contrast, one-nations endorse limited paternalism in the economy through demand-management, as evidence by successive govs from 1951-64. Disraeli argues that paternalistic reforms to improve economic conditions for the poor was necessary, coinciding one-nation mixed economy
Is the contrast limited by the notion if a mixed economy?
Paternalism with regard to human nature
Traditional realist Hobbes’ views on life in state of nature result from our vulnerable, power-seeking intuitions. Thus we create paternalistic governments to protect order. One-nation agrees, arguing that without paternalism, human behaviour will deteriorate
Neo-lib Ayn Rand, by contrast, saw humans as rationally power-hungry, thus less primitive and less prone to chaos. Paternalism should hence be rejected on account that it restricts our rational nature, making us mere puppets to the state — ‘The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me’
To what extent do conservatives have differing views on libertarianism?
Libertarianism is the rights of the individual to liberty, in opposition to paternalism core value
Differing views on libertarianism in the economy
Liberal New Right endorse economic libertarianism with rejection of state intervention —Rand called foe an ‘uncontrolled, unregulated laissez-faire’ economy in opposition to a paternalistic Keynesian economy, believing that the free market is the only mechanism that can maximise allocation of resources by meting consumer demand
By contrast, one-nations reject economic liberty, exemplified by Tory govs of 1951-66 — Macmillan’s ‘middle-way’ sought to reconcile individualist liberalism with collectivist state-planning
Differing views on libertarianism with regard to society and the state
Traditional and one-nation conservatives reject social liberty due to their notion of paternalism and the ‘noblesse oblige’ — Burke argued the ‘natural aristocracy’ should direct society and Disraeli maintained this duty — this clashes with libertarianism, even ‘soft paternalism’
Liberal New Right call for complete social libertarianism, free of the state — Nozick drew on Kant’s categorical imperative to argue that state treated people as mere means/ By contrast, conservative New Right advocate political authoritarianism in response to crime rates of latter 20th century — Thatcher censures the ‘permissive’ attitudes of liberals
