HUMAN NATURE

Question 1

core opinions of humanity

Answer 1

• frail and fallible (philosophy of imperfection)
• ideal society impossible
• concentrates on humanity as it is not how it could be
• humanity is fixed not malleable or remouldable
• driven by self interest but must be contained to provide peace and stability

Question 2

hobbes on human nature

Answer 2

• selfish ruthless and competitive
• without formal authority, lives would be nasty brutish and short
• did think it could be improved

Question 3

burke on human nature

Answer 3

• not guided by reason
• stressed custom and habit as signposts of how we should behave
• fallible but capable of kindness and altruism as long as actions rooted in tradition and christianity
• naturally communal

Question 4

oakeshott on human nature

Answer 4

• life without law would be noisy foolish and flawed
• fragile and fallible but also benign and benevolent when framed by routine and religion

Question 5

nozick and rand on human nature

Answer 5

• yearning for individual freedom
• capacity for enterprise and innovation

Question 6

disagreements between strands

Answer 6

TRAD CON - sceptical, warn against grand utopian schemes.

NEW RIGHT - emphasise possibility of individuals with initiative and liberty, say can unlock human potential by promoting individual energies