traditional conservatism

Question 1

burkes traditional conservatism was grounded in several key principles that reflected a cautious approach to societal change and reverence of tradition he set out his case agsint

Answer 1

the French revolution and the principles that would come to define conservatism in “reflections on the revolution in france” published in 1790

Question 2

pragmatism emphasised the importance of practical experience over abstract theorising burke believed that

Answer 2

decisions should be based on the accumulated wisdom of history rather than revolution and abstract ideas

Question 3

Burke also set out the importance of ‘ changing to conserve’ emphasing the necessity of

Answer 3

careful and gradual reform to preserve the essence of traditions and institutions while adapting to contemporary needs

Question 4

this reverence for tradition underscored the belief in the enduring value of established customs institutions and norms , and thus this

Answer 4

tradition should be maintained and learned from

Question 5

property was also seen as a cornerstone of a stable society , ownership encourages responsibility and discourages

Answer 5

support for radical ideologies that threaten to upturn the social order

Question 6

Burke also upheld the notions of hierarchy and authority viewing them as

Answer 6

natural and necessary for stable society

Question 7

for burke societal order was not artificially constructed but rather

Answer 7

evolved organically akin to a living organism

Question 8

this view of an organic society suggested that changes should be gradual and repspectful of the intricate relationships and

Answer 8

dependencies within a community

Question 9

Burkes conservatism was also based on an acknowledgement of human imperfection , her argued that

Answer 9

human beings are fallible and limited in their capacity to understand and egineer complex social systems

Question 10

the principles of pragmatism , tradition , hierarchy and authority organic society and human imperfection collectively formed the bedrock of Burkes conservative thought offering

Answer 10

a cautious and evolutionary approach to social and political life

Question 11

traditional conservatives beliefs in the early 19th century led to conservatives in Britain strongly supporting and upholding

Answer 11

the monarchy and the church go England , which was seen as two key pillars of tradition and order in society

Question 12

conservatives also in the 19th century also strongly supported maintain a hierarchal social structure that recognised

Answer 12

that the key role of the state was to maintain order and security and society

Question 13

conservatives beliefs in a cohesive society can be seen in PM Peels support for

Answer 13

neighbourhood policing

Question 14

conservatives support for hierarchy can be seen in the fact that many of them were initially opposed to the 1832 reform act which

Answer 14

restructured the British electoral system by redistributing parliamentary seats and expanding the electorate to include more middle class men
- conservatives saw it as disrupting social order and undermining the influence of the aristocracy

Question 15

in the mid 20th century Oakeshott restated the principles and support for traditional conservatism on his essay on

Answer 15

’ being conservatism ‘

Question 16

Oakeshott’s conservatism was anchored in the principle of pragmatism , he argued that

Answer 16

political action should be guided bu practical knowledge and experience rather than ideological dogmatism or theoretical abstraction

Question 17

Oakeshott’s stance was a deliberate counter to the utopian visions of perfect societies prompted by both communism and fascism in the 20th century which he saw as not

Answer 17

only impractical but as deeply dangerous due to their tendency to justify radical and disruptive changes for the pursuit of their ideas

Question 18

In “ on being conservative “ he wrote

Answer 18

” to conservative , then is to prefer the familiar to the unknown , to prefer the tried to the untried , fact to mystery , the actual to the possible , the limited to the unbounded … “

Question 19

Oakeshott emphasised the importance of tradition he views tradition not as a static entity but as a dynamic evolving process that

Answer 19

encapsulates the wisdom and experience of the past

Question 20

this respect for tradition was coupled with the acknowledgement of human imperfection Oakeshott recognised that

Answer 20

human beings are inherently limited in their knowledge and capacity to design perfect systems

Question 21

Oakeshott supported the view that human imperfection was a constant and that politicians therefore

Answer 21

needed to accommodate it rather than to try and alter it

Question 22

in “ on being conservative “ Oakeshott wrote

Answer 22

” the office of government is not to impose other beliefs and activities upon its subjects but to secure them in the enjoyment of what they have chosen “

Question 23

this recognition led to a conservative approach that valued

Answer 23

cautious and gradual change that was deeply skeptical of large scale social engineering projects