Conservatism

Question 1

traditional conservatism key thinkers

Answer 1

thomas hobbes
edmund burke
michael oakeshott

Question 2

one nation conservatism key thinkers

Answer 2

benjamin disraeli

Question 3

neo liberalism key thinkers

Answer 3

robert nozick

Question 4

neo conservatism key thinkers

Answer 4

ayn rand

Question 5

key disagreement - human nature (human imperfection vs rational)

Answer 5

human imperfection = traditional/ one nation

hobbes - humans are irrational, needy and easily led. state should be used to control this

burke - humans cant cope with rational and abstract principles . must use empiricism / wisdom of tradition

____________________________

positive/ rational human nature = new right / neo-liberals

rand - self interested but capable of rational thought (rejects idea of human imperfection)

nozick - self ownership. everyone is entitled to their own way of life. forced redistribution is bad. positive view human nature

Question 6

key disagreement - the state

Answer 6

traditional conservative

(hobbes) - trade some freedoms for protection from the state. includes social/ economic intervention
strong state is needed to guarentee order and security

____________________________

one nation conservativism

(disraeli / oakeshott*) - one nation has greater influence of state in government in order to maintain social order and keep two nations of society together in one
. welfare support/ state to deal with disorder

*oakeshott normally trad con but one nation for state.

____________________________

new right conservatism

(nozick + rand) - small state to preserve liberty and freedom.
rand - ‘growth of the state is the gravest contemporary threat to individual freedom
rand - egotistical individualism / atomistic society
HOWEVER
small + powerful state to enforce law and order when lib ideas damaging to authority + tradition.
think THATCHER POLICY

Question 7

key disagreement - society
(organic society/ natural vs atomistic/ collection of individuals)

Answer 7

traditional conservatives - organic society and paternalism

burke - organic society. all play a part in a wider thing. change to conserve + noblesse oblige

oakeshott - tradition to maintain society. revolution and big change = bad (1930s EUROPE AS AN EXAMPLE)

hobbes (hierarchy) - fixed at birth cant move up

(focus on collective and organicism of society) - it is how it is and thats how it will be

_____________________________

neo libs - atomistic society

rand - should focus on reason and not tradition
society only protects individual rights
/ hierarchy - anyone can move up if talented (fluid)

(focus on the individual)

Question 8

key disagreement - the economy

Answer 8

free market

neo libs (rand)
- calls for uncontrolled, unregulated laissez faire econ. economic issues = the individuals problem not state.
tax = dependency culture + restricts individual liberty

neo-lib (nozick)
- tax is legalised theft

_____________________________

one nation (disraeli)
- tax supports the poor and avoids split in the nation.
state = big role in econ
paternalism = lifts others up

neo con
- pragmatic = state should intervene if it needs to (2008 crash)

Question 9

key agreements - human nature

Answer 9

human imperfection (traditional and one nation)

hobbes (trad) - individuals are selfish and desire supremacy ‘humans are driven by a perpetual and restless desire for power’

disraeli - we cant understand reality so we must be guided by obligation and known institutions.

agreement = empiricism > rationalism

Question 10

key agreements - the state

Answer 10

traditional con (hobbes)
- government exists to provide security and order. without state = war

(oakeshott) - state required to keep ‘ship of society’ afloat

neo-conservatives (rand)
- strong state to maintain law and order (not for ecom - no intervention for econ)

Question 11

key agreements - society

Answer 11

organic society agreement = trad con and neo con

burke - organic society we all have role in order to ensure society runs smoothly ‘society is a contract’
rand - organic society but authoritarian

hierarchy and tradition agreement = trad con and neo con

burke - tradition creates social stability. change to preserve not change for sake of change. empiricism and known means should be preferred

rand (neo con) - focus on traditional values and roles of family. hierarchy should be preserved although individuals can move through hierarchal boundaries (talent)

Question 12

key agreement - the economy

Answer 12

respect of private property (trad, NR)

burke (trad) - private property is vital for psychological security of individuals / moral wellbeing. stake in organic society

rand (neo con) - property gives people place in society. state should remove taxation to help people buy property.
+ neo lib (nozick) income is property and should not be taken by the state (legalised theft)

agree because property strengthens cohesions and encourages responsibility

+

free market capitalism (trad + nR +1 nation)

trad con (burke) - free market, laissez faire. smithonian economics

one nation (disraeli) - free markets sometimes need moderation though

neo con (rand) - no state intervention completetly free to respect individuals pursuit of self interest