Human Nature

Question 1

Introduction - Themes

Answer 1

• Human Imperfection
• Formal Authority
• Individualism

Question 2

Introduction - Argument

Answer 2

There are some definite agreements between the branches, however, on the whole they disagree more than they agree

Question 3

Human Imperfection - Agree - Point

Answer 3

They agree that human nature is faulty and fallibale - the ‘philosophy of imperfection.’ They all deny that humanity has timeless flaws and any quest for the perfect society is therefore misguided and potentially disasterious

Question 4

Human Imperfection - Disagree - Point

Answer 4

• Traditional conservatives tend to take a more pessimistic view of imperfection that One Nation and New Right conservatives

Question 5

Human Imperfection - Disagree - Examples (Traditional)

Answer 5

Thomas Hobbs regarded human nature as ruthlessly selfish, calculating and competitive. Hobbes went on to argue in Leviathan that underpinning human nature was cold rationality

Question 6

Human Imperfection - Disagree - Examples
(One Nation)

Answer 6

Michael Oakshott wished to qualify the negative view of human nature to a lesser extent. He argued people were ‘falliable but not terrible’ and ‘imperfect but not immoral’

Question 7

Formal Authority - Agree - Point

Answer 7

All branches agree that due to the imperfect nature of humans there needs to be some sort of formal authority to keep humans’ restraints

Question 8

Formal Authority - Agree - Example

Answer 8

Thomas Hobbes states that without the restraints of formal authority, realtions between human beings would be marked by ‘envy, hatred and war,’ leading to a life that was ‘nasty, brutish and short’

Question 9

Formal Authority - Disagree - Point

Answer 9

• Traditional conservatives and One Nation argue that it is pretty much fixed and constant, and the formal authority’s only role is to accommodate through traditional and conservatism
• New Right believe you can unlock more of human potential

Question 10

Formal Authority - Disagree - Examples
(Traditional and One Nation)

Answer 10

Burke and Oakshott argue that the role for the ‘formal authority’ is to signpost how we should behave through custom, habit and experience. If tradition is perpetuated through the state, Thomas Hobbes argues that humans are ‘capable of kindness’

Question 11

Formal Authority - Disagree - Examples
(New Right)

Answer 11

Nozick and Rand take an especially positive view of the state’s juridication in unlocking human potential. They argue that by fostering pro-captialist environment individuals are unleashed

Question 12

Individualism - Agree - Point

Answer 12

All branches of conservativism see human nature as selfish and individuals working in tehir own self-interest, however, they also acknowledge the importance of community to dilute their nature

Question 13

Indivdualism - Agree - Example

Answer 13

Thomas Hobbs and Nozick agree on the premise that human nature was driven by self-interest. All refer to humans as ‘freedom loving pack animals’

Question 14

Individualism - Disagree - Point

Answer 14

• New Right argue that individualism should embraced and that they should be left to realise their talents
• One Nation and Traditional conservatives stress that human nature is naturally communal and not indivdualistic

Question 15

Individualism - Disagree - Example
(Traditional)

Answer 15

Edmund Burke stressed the importance of ‘little platoons’ to ‘prune the crooked timber of humanity’

Question 16

Individualism - Disagree - Example
(New Right)

Answer 16

Nozick argued that indivduals are the sole authors of their talents and abilities and should be left alone to realise them. New Right thinkers were keen to highlight nature’s yearning for individual freedom, and it subsequent capacity of enterprise and innovation