Conservativism

Question 1

Traditional conservatism

Answer 1

• Reaction to rational principles of the 19th century enlightenment (monarchy and church have previously been successful)
  Key beliefs:
• Pragmatism (practical attitude)
• Empiricism (evidence and experience)
• Tradition

Question 2

One Nation conservatism

Answer 2

• After WW2, Attlee government influence
• More state interference in economy and society to preserve society
• Still believe in the hierarchy, but organic society - those above help those below.

Question 2

The New Right

Answer 2

• 1970s (Thatcher)
• Combo of neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism
• One Nation encouraged too much change and lost touch with conservative values
• Laissez Faire economics

Question 3

Core principles

Answer 3

• Human imperfection
• Tradition
• Pragmatism
• Paternalism
• Organic society
• Libertarianism

Question 4

Human imperfection

Answer 4

• All humans are imperfect and self interested
• Negative view on human nature
• 3 types: morally imperfect, intellectually imperfect, psychologically imperfect
• Authority provides order in society
  AGREEMENT: humans are imperfect
  DISAGREEMENT: the extent to which humans are imperfect. Burke had less negative view than Hobbes - humans are naturally communal.

Question 5

Tradition

Answer 5

• Wisdom of the past underpin society
• Religion is important as it binds society together, ‘great source of civilisation’ - Burke
• Encourage continuity and peace (Burke) & against government of abstract thought & partnership of living, to be born, and dead
• Revolutions are consequences of abolished traditions

Question 6

Pragmatism

Answer 6

• Strategic actions causing the least damage
• Empiricism
• Distrust in theories of socialism and liberalism
• Change to conserve - stability (pragmatically accept Attlee’s intervention in economy and welfare state)

Question 7

Paternalism

Answer 7

• Unequal society arranged into hierarchy
• Those higher up help those lower in hierarchy
• Most associated with One Nation conservativism - Disraeli elite accepted obligations to working class
• ‘tough love’ - neo conservative view against the welfare system

Question 8

Organic society

Answer 8

• Society develops like an organism that emerges and grows
• The state proceeds over society
• Individual rights need a state to maintain them
• Little platoons (localised communities - pos view)
• Change to conserve- adapt to change instead of completely reject change
• Unequal society - practical reality
• Noblesse oblige - hierarchy
  DISAGREEMENT: Hobbes said absolute monarch should govern. Birke said aristocracy should lead.

Question 9

Libertarianism

Answer 9

• Negative freedom & minimal state interference
• Atomistic individualism (self interested and sufficient)
• Positive view on human nature, rational - negative freedom!
• Reject empiricism - legalise hard drugs, against religion
• Egotistical individualism