Human Imperfection / Human Nature Flashcards
How has O’Sullivan described conservatism?
As the philosophy of human imperfection
What kind of view of human nature do conservatives hold?
A pessimistic view
What approach do the deepest conservatives take?
The Roman Catholic view that humans are born with origin sin
What does original sin say about humans?
They are seriously flawed in character and no matter how hard they try will be unable to achieve perfection
How would socialists disagree with the conservative view?
They argue individuals can be moulded by society into perfect creatures
How do Conservatives disagree with liberals on human nature?
They don’t see humans as reason guides creatures
What do conservatives say humans are guided by?
Basic appetite, desire for physical prosperity, for property, for power and to avoid deprivation
Finish the sentence:
Human nature is not a constant…
It changes as the nature of society itself changes
Why did Karl Popper criticise all ideologies?
On the grounds that they had been based on a fixed view of human nature
Give an example of how human nature may change
In some periods individuals may want individualism and at other times they may want security and welfare
What is the conservative tradition?
People are untrustworthy, self seeking and generally feckless
What did Burke say humankind needed?
Firm government
How did Burke say the relationship between government and people should be?
Similar to a relationship between a parent and a child
What is Burke’s idea of the state as a parent called?
Paternalism
Give the famous quote by Thatcher
There are individuals and there are families, there is no such thing as society
What are human beings thought to be?
Psychologically limited
What do conservatives say humans fear?
Isolation and instability
What are individuals drawn to?
Safety and familiarity
What do conservatives emphasise the importance of and why?
Emphasise the importance of social order and to be suspicious of the attractions of liberty
Because humans are psychologically limited and fear isolation and instability
What did Hobbes say the primary human urge is?
Power after power
What is crime a consequence of?
Humankind’s basic instincts and appetites
How is the conservative view of crime different to the liberal one
Liberals would say it is caused by economic and social deprivation
What is the conservative view of punishment
They believe in exemplary punishment rather than social remedies
How did Oakeshott describe politics?
He said it’s boundless and bottomless
