Michael Oakeshott Flashcards

1
Q

What is Oakeshott most famous work?

A

‘On Being Conservative’ (1962)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What Philosophy did Oakeshott argue conservatism is and not what philosophy?

A

Oakeshott called it ‘philosophy of imperfection’ and not ‘philosophy of pessimism’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What did Oakeshott argue the human nature of most humans is?

A

‘fallible but not terrible’ and ‘imperfect but not immoral’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Though Oakeshott thought humans were incapable of the ‘perfect’ societies what did he believe humanity was still able to secure?

A

‘both pleasure and improvement through the humdrum business of everyday life’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

With liberalism and socialism having such clear views of how society ‘should’ be what did Oakeshott claim this lead to?

A

impatience, intolerance and frustration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What did Oakeshott claim that conservatives who were reconciled to human imperfection have?

A

A greater appreciation of the pleasures that already exist in life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What did Oakeshott claim most conservatives thought in terms of progression?

A

‘prefer the familiar to the unknown, the actual to the possible, the convenient to the perfect… present laughter to utopian bliss’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Why was Oakeshott dismiss of ‘normative’ politics?

A

its ‘simplistic visions that overlook the complexity of reality’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What was Oakeshott’s final work?

A

‘The Politics Of Faith & the Politics Of Skepticism’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What Did Oakeshott argue for the state’s existence?

A

‘prevent the bad rather than create the good’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is Oakeshott’s ‘nautical metaphor’?

A

‘We all sail a boundless sea with no appointed destination… keeping the ship afloat at all costs…. using experience to negotiate every storm, stoicism to accept necessary changes of direction… and not fixation on a port that may not exist’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What did new right thinkers criticise Oakeshott’s philosophy for?

A

Being too fatalistic and underestimates our ability to shape circumstances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

For new right thinkers like Nozick what did they think of Oakeshott’s mentality?

A

That ‘Oakeshott’s mentality’ was ‘lazy’ and allowed socialist ideas to advance unchallenged after 1945

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly