Conservative Thinkers: Economy

Question 1

Hobbes on Taxation

Answer 1

Hobbes allows taxation if his notion of an all-powerful sovereign (Leviathan (1651) ) wishes to implement taxation. Also, given that citizens surrender all rights (except to resist being killed) to the sovereign when they enter a contract between themselves and the latter, they have no option but to accept the tax.

Question 2

Nozick on Taxation

Answer 2

Any patterned government intervention (intervention for a distribution which varies along with some natural dimension such as wealth and income), that acts according to End-Result rather than Historical Principles of Justice (the end result of the distribution rather than the history of the distribution) is unjust; therefore taxation (which is for this purpose) is bad.

Question 3

Rand on Taxation

Answer 3

Equates taxation to “looting” and argues that it is an unjustified infringement on individual liberty, disincentivising industriousness. In a fully free society though, taxation would be voluntary. Since the proper services of a government (the police, the military, the law courts) are demonstrably needed by individual citizens and affect their interests directly, the citizens would (and should) be willing to pay for such services.

Question 4

Nozick on Redistribution

Answer 4

Against redistribution, proposing an atomistic society as there is “no social entity with a good that undergoes some sacrifice for its own good … and that to use people for the benefit of others (through taxation and redistribution), uses him and benefits others. Nothing more”.

Question 5

Rand on Redistribution

Answer 5

Also opposes redistribution, agreeing that society is atomistic and defined by millions of autonomous individuals each independently seeking self-fulfilment and realisation. Hence, as society does not exist in a practical form, the redistribution of wealth in the name of society should therefore be challenged.

Question 6

Disraeli on Redistribution

Answer 6

Agrees with the redistribution of wealth it is in the interests of the ruling elite to adopts a stance of paternalism towards those less fortunate. Once writing that “the palace is not safe when the collage is not happy”, redistribution would most importantly prevent the emergence of revolutionary conscience amongst the disaffected.

Question 7

Oakeshott on Government Intervention

Answer 7

Free markets are volatile and unpredictable, and my require pragmatic moderation by the state. This is possibly rooted in his view of human nature as being “noisy, foolish and flawed”, hence justifying his inclination for government intervention in the economy.

Question 8

Hobbes on Government Intervention

Answer 8

Argued that constructive and enduring economic activity is impossible without a state guaranteeing order and security. This is also rooted in his cynical view of human nature as being needy and vulnerable and so therefore likely to commit destructive acts. Therefore, the state is the necessary arbitrator.

Question 9

Rand on Government Intervention

Answer 9

Free-market capitalism is an expression of ‘objectivist’ individualism and should not be hindered by the state. This is because humans naturally seek autonomy and ‘space’ and are guided by rational self-interest, so therefore do not require government moderation.