Conservative Thinkers: Society

Question 1

Nozick on the distribution of wealth for the good of society

Answer 1

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 2

Rand on the distribution of wealth for the good of society

Answer 2

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 3

Disraeli on the distribution of wealth for the good of society

Answer 3

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 4

Hobbes on society in the state of nature

Answer 4

Individuals in the Hobbesian ‘state of nature’ would be governed by ruthless self-interest, shaping our restless desire for acquisition, immovable distrust of others and a constant fear of violent death. In Hobbes’ in own words, life in this state would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”.

Question 5

Oakeshott on society in the state of nature

Answer 5

Unlike Hobbes, Oakeshott believed that life without law would be “not so much nasty, brutish and short … as noisy, foolish and flawed”. Human nature is ‘fragile and fallible’, yet it is also ‘benign and benevolent’ when framed by routine, familiarity and religious principles; most people he argued are ‘fallible but not terrible’ and ‘imperfect but not immoral’.

Question 6

Burke on society in the state of nature

Answer 6

Agreed with Hobbes and Oakeshott that individuals wouldn’t live contentedly according to the easy impulses of natural right in the state of nature.

Question 7

Burke on the structure of society

Answer 7

Society consists of a natural hierarchy, adopting an organic notion where each section of society has their own obligations and we should “love the little platoon in society to which we belong”. The ruling elite benefits from the knowledge passed by family members, but this gives them the duty of care over other.

Question 8

Hobbes on the structure of society

Answer 8

Society consists of a two-tier hierarchy of the population and a sovereign authority, to whom all individuals in that society cede all rights to (except the right to resist against being killed).

Question 9

Disraeli on the structure of society

Answer 9

One Nation Conservatism philosophy parallels Burke’s belief in a an organic society in which the different classes have natural obligations to one another. He viewed society as natural hierarchical and emphasised the obligations of those at the top to those below.