Conservativism Flashcards
What is traditional conservatism
arose as a reaction to social, political and economic change in the 18th century
focused on the idas of an organic society, naturally hierachal society so people should eb rewarded differently
ealry traditional conservtives saw the aristocracy as ‘natural leaders of society’ as they have been raised to be leaders and had a duty to care for less fortunate members of society - ‘soft’ paternalism
What is One-nation conservatism
Most associated with prime minister Benjiman Disraeli (1804-1881) who was concerned with britain being divided into ‘two nations’ the rich and the poor
ideas around caring for the least well-off members of society to reduce the chance of revolution
was influential in the 18+19th century and post ww2 and can be seen as inspiring conservative party leader david cameron
What is The New Right
response to the ‘boom’ in the late 1970’s in western culture of economic growth
combination of neo-liberalism and neo-conservativism
What is Neo-Liberalism
arguebly devloped due to the failure of keynesian economics in the 1970’s
state should be minimized and dominated by free-market thinking
What are the core conservative views on Human Nature
humans are limited in capacity and flawed, human nature has both psoitive and negative aspects and because of the negative, there is a need for security and law to protect and guard
society is a vunerable place so strong legal frameworks are needed
human nature leads humans to follow familiar patterns of life rather than trying new things
What are the core conservative views on The State
There is a need for the state to provide law and order and defense, the state is a unifying force to promote national cohesion
What are the Core conservtaive views on Society
Society is organic which passes values through the ages. Society is formed by the principles of tradition, authority and principled morality
What are The Core Conservative views on The economy
supports free-market and individual enterprise
if economic growth results in property - then property owners hold a stake in society and will not rebel
Thomas Hobbes on Human Nature
Human beings are inherently selfish and driven by the desire to survive
saw human behavior as governed by basic appetites such as fear of death rather than morality
Without authority and laws humans would exist in constant fear and conflict
humans are able to reason pragmatically - exchanging freedoms for security - social contract
Thomas Hobbes on The State
The state is not natural but formed thorugh social contract
to avoid civil wars the state must be absolute and undivided
teh state must have total authorrty to enforce order
rejected seperation of powers and came up with the idea of a Leviathan - a monarch or an assembly that holds all power
primary role of the state is to protect individual from the violent instincts of others
the state is legitimised by consent
Thomas Hobbes on Society
Without Authority society does not exist in a moral ro ordered way it is just isolated individuals pursuing their own self interest
order and cohesion in society only exist when society submits to a soverign power
society needs strict rules and a powerful state to funtion
moral norms and social cooperation are only possible when the soverign establishes laws and enforces them consistently
society is a by-product of the state’s enforcement of law and order not a natural moral community
Thomas Hobbes on The Economy
there is no economic order in the state of nature, economic development relies on security and enforcement of order
the role of the state is not to excessively intervene with the conomy but to enforce contracts
individuals can pursue wealth once order is established in society
favours a minimal regulatory state - ensuring justice and stability rather than directing economic growth
Edmund Burke on Human nature
Humans are imperfect and fallible and overestimate human reason which was was leads us to revolt
humans are guided more by tradition than abstract reasoning which is vital for social stability
Human fulfillment is not found in individualism but in loyalty to institutiona and inherited tradition
universal moral laws are not found thorugh reason they are inherited through tradition
Edmund Burke’s on The State
The state in organic that has developed over time
the state refelects the accumulted wisdom of past generations and so should not be rapidly restructured
Burke rejected revolution
He favoured pragmatic, cautious change rooted in tradition
The state has a responsibilty to protect and guide citizens like a parent and a child
supports hierachy within the state and valued institutions such as The Church, the Monarchy and Parliament and their authority must be preserved to maintain order
Edmund Burke on Society
Society is a living organism that is shaped by tradition
interdependence - people rely on each other and have distct roles in society
attempting to dismantle traditional society leads to chaos e.g. the french revolution
hierachy is natural and those in leaderhsip positions should guide others
social harmony doesn’t come from equality it comes from everyone knowing their place in society
each person exists in a community and has a duty to uphold social bonds - not just pursue self-interest
‘little platoons’ e.g. family, the church and community are vital for moral order and they are the building blocks of society
Edmund Burke on The Economy
supports a free-market economy with minimal state intervention as the invisible hand of supply and demand would lead to prosperity
markets should evolve organically like society
ownership of property is a sign of responsibility and moral dicipline - those w/ property are natural leaders
opposed any economic systems that strived for equality
economic inequality is neccessary for social order
economic policy should be pragmatic - based of maintaining social stability
there is a moral foundation of economic activity that should be guided by tradition and not just profit
Micheal Oakshott on Human Nature
Humans are inherently fallible and are not perfectible
criticised rationalsim - the idea that society can be shaped by abstract reasoning
humans operate best through practical knowledge gained thorugh tradition and experience rather than ideological principles
we are naturally drawn to routine because it provides us with stability and security
Human beings flourish with limitations and excessive ambition leads to chaos and tyranny
human reason is limited
Micheal Oakshott on The State
The state is a practical arrangement to maintain order and prevent bad things from happening rather than actively impose a vision of the good life
skeptical of ideological interference with the state as it ‘over-burdens’ it with unrealistic goals
the state should not pursue perfection but rather manage the affairs of the present
did not oppose all state intervention - just those based of abstract ideologies
emphaisised the importance of laws and institutions that evolve thorugh tradition
the state should not be intrusive
Michael Oakshott on society
critical that society could be improved by abstract reasoning or utopian ideas
society is best explained as a producty of tradition rather than designed through reason
traditions in society represent collective wisdom of the past so should be respected and people shouldn’t reinvent the structures of society through abstract ideals
skeptical of rationalism and faith being involved in ideologies
Micheal Oakshott on The Economy
believees in tradition and the gradual evolution of economic systems
deeply skeptical of economic planning that was based on rationalism or ideologies
the economy should be seen like society as inherited wisdom of the past and should not be reinvented
minimal state intervention
did not believe in laissez-faire capitalism but did believe in letting the forces of a free market economy to operate within a framework of stability provided by the state
pragmaticism over ideological committments to the economy
Ayn Rand on Human Nature
Humans are rational whose highest moral purpose is the pursuit of their own happiness
being driven by self-interest is virtuous and not selfish
humans are capable of using reason to determine their own values
humans have an inclination to suceed when unrestrained by government or collectivism
rejected altruism - as it devalues the individual
Ayn Rand on The State
Minimal state to respect the individuals pursuit of self-interest
the only role of the state is to protect the indivdual rights through institutions such as the police and the courts
rejected all state intervention as it is coercion that violates individual freedom favoured entirely laissez-faire government
Ayn Rand on Society
society should be a volutary association of individuals that are pursuing their own self-interest
hugely rejected collectivism - the idea that groups of people such as race should take priority over the individual
ideal society is one where people interest freely thorugh the choice of reason not through altruistic duty
Ayn Rand on The economy
favoured complete laissez-faire economy as that is the only system that protects individual rights
Economy should be completely unregulated by the state
capitalism with laissez-faire state is the only system that can allow individuals to rationally pursue happiness
