question 13 Flashcards
Edmund Burke:
Society is like a fabric, with each generation building on the past.
Social institutions (family, religion, government) provide stability and wisdom.
Change should be slow and respect tradition.
Believes in a “natural aristocracy” where educated elites lead society.
David Hume:
Tradition and experience matter more than pure reason.
Laws and institutions should evolve naturally over time.
People are driven by emotions, so institutions help guide behavior.
How This Shapes Conservative Views on Government:
Government should maintain order but not interfere too much in personal life.
Traditions should be preserved for social stability.
Change should be gradual, not radical.
Comparison to Other Ideologies:
Unlike liberalism and Marxism, conservatism values tradition over individual rights or radical change.
Shares skepticism of human rationality with fascism but rejects authoritarianism.