OB - Conservatism

Question 1

principles of conservatism

Answer 1

-maintaining the status quo
-religion
-changing to conserve

Question 2

Thomas Hobbes 1588-1679

Answer 2

-wrote during eng civil war
-leviathan 1651( why one should obey gov authority)
-hated violence

Question 3

Hobbes view on society

Answer 3

-sceptical view on human nature ( it was needy and vulnerable likely to commit destructive acts), would be governed by ruthless self-interest, human life the state of nature was NASTY BRUTISH AND SHORT

Question 4

HOBBES view on state

Answer 4

• ‘natural chaos’ stemmed from the absence of no formal authority
• state has to be in full control to see any progress
  -reason for the state was for order and security
  -social contract= as citizens you obey the leader as long as its in your best interest
  -put up with state and don’t rebell unless threatened with life

Question 5

Edmunde Burke 1729-97

Answer 5

-strongly opposed French Revolution as it disgregarded history and tradition
-radical whig mp
-father of conservatism
-against rationality + logic
-reflections on the revolution in France 1790
-change was necessary to conserve, but change should proceed on the basis of fact and experience (empiricism and tradition)

Question 6

burkes view on economy

Answer 6

-in favour of capitalism and Adam smiths call for free trade

Question 7

burkes view on society/ human nature

Answer 7

-human imperfection, tendency to fail more than it succeeds
-‘crooked timber of humanity’

Question 8

burkes views on state

Answer 8

• in all organic societies a ruling class was inevitable and desirable , however this class had a clear obligation to govern in interests of all
  -doesnt like centralised state needed ‘little platoons’ eg small gov/local authorities

Question 9

Michael oakeshott 1901-90

Answer 9

-ww1/2 Cold War
-on being conservative 1962
-tries to make conservatism seem more optimistic

Question 10

oaksuott view on society

Answer 10

-most men and women were fallible but not terrible
-humanity was still able to score both pleasure and improvement through everyday life

Question 11

oakshott view on state

Answer 11

-state existed to prevent the bad rather than create good
- Govs job is to keep the ship afloat at all costs with no destination

Question 12

Ayn Rand 1905-82

Answer 12

-new right thinker
-atlas shrugged 1957
-libertarian

Question 13

rand views on society

Answer 13

• talented individuals rather than ambitious governments lay at the heart of any successful society
  -objectivism= we should all he guided by self interest
  -defended individuals ‘right to choose’ in areas of homosexuality or aborition

Question 14

rand views on economy

Answer 14

-defended free markets

Question 15

rand views on state

Answer 15

-need a small state
-liberty was impossible without order and security which only a state can provide

Question 16

Robert Nozick 1931-2002

Answer 16

-post war consensus + Cold War
-new right thinker
-anarchy state and utopia 1974
-slightly liberal

Question 17

nozick view on state

Answer 17

-growth of government was the gravest contemporary threat to individual freedom
-growth of welfare states in Western Europe fostered a dependancy culture
-MINARCHIST STATE, one that went through privatisation (SO HE NOT A FULL ANARCHIST)
-formal authority enforcing laws

Question 18

nizick view on society

Answer 18

• individual should be left alone not just in economic terms but also in social spheres
  -relaxed views on abortion divorce and gay
  -optimistic view on human nature but some people will do you over
  -society predates the state

Question 19

nozick view on economy

Answer 19

-tax for the most part is theft
-free market capitalism