Traditional conservatism

Question 1

Where did traditional conservatism come from?

Answer 1

• reactionary ideology that resisted the decline of feudalism and aristocratic rule

Question 2

Explore Hobbes and early traditional conservatism

Answer 2

• society is hierarchical and unequal - humans do not all have the same skills, abilities and talents
• the elite are best qualified to govern and they have a noblesse oblige to govern in the interest of the people (the duty of society’s elite, wealthy and privileged to look after those less fortunate)
• humans are imperfect and thus the state needs to provide order, security and stability for society
• society can change but only gradually and carefully
  society is organic - a living organism like the body, which depends for its survival on the healthy functioning of its parts

Question 3

Discuss Thomas Hobbes

Answer 3

Key ideas:
- order: an ordered society should balance the human need to lead a free life
-human nature: Humans are needy, vulnerable and easily led astray in attempts to understand the world around them

Key text: Leviathan (1651)
- without government and structure of society humans would be forced to live in a violent state of nature (this would result in a ‘state of war’ where humans only cared about self preservation)
- the only solution to this dystopia is order which could be achieved through a social contract between individuals in society and the head of state (monarch)
- A strong authoritative government guarantees equilibrium. He argued that society cannot exist before the creation of the state
- ‘ the passions of men are commonly more potent than their reason’

Question 4

Discuss Edmund Burke and traditional conservatism

Answer 4

• in the 18th century Hobbes ideas were challenged by the ideas of the enlightenment/ the French revolution/ the decline of aristocratic rule and the changing dynamics of the state/society in response to the industrial revolution
• Burke agreed with Hobbes that humans are imperfect but disagreed on the extent of this imperfection
• Burke favoured empiricism (the idea that knowledge comes from real experience) rather than rational theorising

Question 5

Discuss Edmund Burke

Answer 5

Key ideas:
- organic change: political change should occur with great caution and organically
- tradition and empiricism: practises passed down for generations should be respected

Reflections on the revolution France:
- decision making based on rationalistic ideas of abstract thoughts is ill advised
- society must change to conserve (society should adapt to changing circumstances by instigating small modifications rather than rejecting change outright. These compromises will preserve the essence of society)
- the ruling class has a paternalistic responsibility to society’s weaker elements to maintain equilibrium
- ‘all men have equal rights but not to equal things’
- ‘politics ought to be adjusted not to human reasoning but to human nature’

Question 6

Explore traditional conservatism in the 20th century

Answer 6

• Michael Oakeshott focuses on human imperfection when describing conservatism
• in his 1962 text ‘on being conservative’ he states that human imperfection means that it is beyond the ability of humans to understand reality
• modern society is unpredictable and multifaceted
• governments should govern in the best interest of people.