Core Ideas Of Socialism - Human Nature Flashcards
What are the 5 ways socialists view human nature
-optimistic
-fraternal
-rational
-communal
-malleable
What is this optimistic view of human nature
-as socialism grew out of enlightenment it took an optimistic view of human nature + human condition
-dismissing notion humans should meekly accept their fate or be fearful of the future
What are socialists confident about regarding humans
-socialists confident humans destined for vastly improved world individually + generally
How is this optimistic view reflected by a key thinker
-Webb commented 890 ‘no excuse for depressive inaction…no cause for listless despondency. A better tomorrow is conceivable, achievable and probable’
What were some early socialists depicted as and what did they suggest
-depicted as utopian socialists
-their ‘model’ communities reflected their own vision of an ideal society
What was utopian socialism
-socialism based on a vision of the perfect human existence
-but for Marx this ‘utopian’ character denoted the absence of any clear method for bringing socialism to fruition
What did Marx predict instead
-predicted that communism would be a secular paradise where serious problems were banished + where humans were wise, virtuous + happy
What is the fraternal view of human nature
-different to liberalism’s optimistic view of humans being egotistical + self-interest but socialism sees it as fraternal + comradely
-also naturally co-operative + collaborative regarding each other as quasi-siblings rather than fierce rivals
What does fraternal and cooperative suggest the relationship between humans should be
-should be generous + harmonious + that we should regard our fellow humans as friends rather then rivals
How does Luxembourg endorse this view
-when staring ‘our instinct is not to win but to share…our ultimate instinct is to share the fruits of victory with others’
How does Giddens relate to this view
-even high earners in a capitalist econ could be rationally persuaded that their own success should finance greater help for the less fortunate rather than greater rewards for themselves
-e.g. by paying more tax to the state so state afford greater public spending on areas such as welfare to benefit less fortunate
What is the view of human nature as being rational
-humans are naturally logical + rational
-on account of being fraternal socialists believe we can act both reasonably + cooperatively thus making ‘sensible’ decisions more likely
How is this view seen through Webb + later thinkers like Crossland
-advantage enjoyed by humans was their capacity to collectively plan progress in methodical manner
-for Webb this posted to ‘the great flaw’ in classical liberalism e.g. laissez-faire approach to econ activity
What is the socialist view of human nature being communal
-argue we naturally seek out o be party of a community rather than relentlessly seeking autonomy + individual independence
-like Webb stated ‘we are not lone wolves… we forever seek out the company of the pack’ which relates to the notion of solidarity
How is human nature being communal echoed by Marx
-argued the final stage in human development - communism - involved voluntary communities where everyone accommodated according to their ‘needs’ rather than individuals ‘abilities’
-once capitalism destroyed individuals eventually realise that selfishness a symptom of ‘false consciousness’ + that service to a community was the true source of individual pleasure
What is the view of human nature being malleable
-Marx’s claims that human nature gradually be ‘restored’ after fall of capitalism touches upon aspect of human natures plasticity
How is this seen through Marx’s writings
-Marx and Engels in communist manifesto say humans are contaminated by forces beyond the control of most individuals
-human nature as malleable has led socialists thinkers to excuse many of humanity’s current defects
What is an example of this
-echoes of this in Giddens analaysis of crime + juvenile delinquency
-for Giddens + his political protege Blair govs should be ‘tough on crime’ + ‘tough on causes of crime’
What does human nature being malleable also lead socialists to believe
-as human nature malleable it is also repairable through bold socialist reform
