Conservativism Flashcards
Freedom and paternalism
+
[state, law and order, and economy]
Traditional = Burke believes that the state should paternalistically rule as they overcome flaws to rule in the national interest such as granting freedoms in the British Empire to stave off revolution
One nation = Disraeli’s minimum safety net as a minimum standard of living
Freedom and paternalism —
[state, law and order, and economy]
New Right = Thatcher had strict Victorian morals [Section 28 = prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities — children should ‘respect traditional moral values’]
Vs. Nozick believed in complete social freedom
Law and Order
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[state’s role, protecting/policing freedoms, order through the economy]
Should be maintained =
Traditional = Hobbes believes that human nature makes people violent so they should be under strict control
New Right = Thatcher was tough on crime
Law and Order —
[states’ role, protecting/policing freedoms, order through the economy]
Traditional = Hobbes believe that violence means that they should give up their rights to the state
New Right = Rand due to no taxes believes that the courts and police should be voluntarily funded due to complete freedom.
Economy
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[state’s role, infringe on freedom, order through the economy
Little intervention:
One nation = Disraeli stable state so little intervention
New Right = Nozick believes that to go against peoples will is wrong so tax is too
Economy —
[state’s role, infringing on freedoms, order through economy]
One nation = Disraeli factory reform as paternal so caring and regulation of water quality
New right = Rand believes that being selfish is morally right so no tax at all
Society and Human nature
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[S = human nature, the state’s role, organic society
HN = state’s role, law and order, infringe in freedoms]
Society provides the framework for individuals as humans are flawed
Traditional - Hobbes = everyone is flawed
New Right - Rand = everyone is selfish
Society —
[human nature, the state’s role, organic society]
Hobbes = everyone is flawed so should give up their rights so authority can be implemented = state for safety
Rand = everyone is selfish — which is morally right
Key Thinkers:
Hobbes
Levianthan 1651 = order and human nature analysed
- ‘a restless desire for power’ vs. right of self defence
- rationally people would sacrifice freedom and natural rights to the state for security
Key Thinkers:
Burke
In Reflections on the Revolution in France 1790 = state represents a living organism so through ‘pruning’ change can occur to preserve stability
‘swinish multitude’ to describe workers + true natural arisyocracy
+ Disraeli = state should work for national interest for stability
Key Thinkers:
Oakeshott
Rationalism in Politics 1962
= pragmatism and human imperfection
- ideologies fail as no one can fully understand how society will change [against communism]
Key Thinkers:
Rand
The Fountainhead 1943
= objectivism - self-interest is morally right
- complete freedom = laissez faire
Key Thinkers:
Nozick
Anarchy, State and Utopia 1974
- libertarianism = based on Kant = individual rights
- self-ownership = individuals cannot be used against their will - against tax and welfare state — so against anti-smoking regulations
- Emphasised the state adopting a nightwatchman state status = classical liberalism view
