Key Thinkers Flashcards
What was Thomas Hobbes’ most famous work?
Leviathan
What was Hobbes’s view on human nature?
Sceptical, arguing that it was needy and vulnerable and therefore likely to commit destructive act
What were the characteristics of a Hobbesian state of nature?
Place of scarce resources where individuals would be governed by ruthless self interest
What did Hobbes suggest would happen if there was no authority or state?
Natural chaos would occur
What did hobbes think of the liberal idea of separation of powers?
He believed that the state had to be autocratic because if the powers were spread out then conflicts within the state of nature would soon be replicated
What did hobbes think was the main reason for a state?
For security; without a state there could be no civil society; and that for the state to be effective, it would have to be autocratic
What was Edmund Burke against?
The French Revolution
Why was Burke against the French Revolution?
Because of his negative view on human nature claiming the revolution was based on utopian and thus unrealistic
How did Burke argue change should happen?
Change should happen through fact and experience (empiricism and tradition) - rather than theory and idealism.
What did Burke compare the state to and how did he want change to happen?
He compared the state to a plant advocating for cautious and organic change.
What was Oakeshotts book called?
On being conservative
What did Oakeshott argue conservatism was compared to other ideologies?
He said that ideologies that say how society should be produce intolerance and frustration. He said conservatives have a greater appreciation of the pleasures that already exist
How did Oakeshott believe that wisdom was achieved?
Through experience , trial and error rather than abstract philosophy.
“In the kitchen, cook books are only useful after experience of preparing a meal.”
What did Oakeshott believe the state was for (quote)
“Prevent the bad rather than create the good.”
What did ayn rand believe was the most important thing in society?
Individuals - without them a society would quickly wither away
What was Rands “objectivism”?
Belief that we should all be guided by self interest and ‘rational self fulfilment”
What did rand become associated with?
The new rights atomism - view that individuals seek autonomy and “space”. Conservatives traditionally reject the idea. But new right are much more optimistic to their view on human nature
What did Nozick believe the growth of the state would do?
It would threaten individual freedom - the growth of welfare states fostered a dependency culture
What was Nozicks view on the role of the state?
He believed in a minarchist state - one that mainly involved outsourcing public services to private companies
What was Nozicks view on human nature?
He had an optimistic view which is very different to that of Hobbes and Burke
Why is Nozick a conservative and not a liberal?
Nozicks view on human nature is not entirely positive - arguing the preservation of life, liberty and property could not all be protected without some form of formal authority.
Individual communities would be free to practice particular moral codes including values which might be anti-Christian updating Burkes “little platoons”
What wave of conservatism was Robert Nozick?
New right
What wave of conservatism is Ayn Rand?
New right
What wave of conservatism is Micheal Oakeshott?
Traditional conservatism is a modern setting
What wave of conservatism is Edmund Burke?
traditional conservatism
What wave of conservatism is Thomas Hobbes?
Traditional conservatism
