Why did Hobbes believe in a strong state
- freedom without order and authority would lead to disastrous consequences for society
- Without, humans would exhibit a “restless desire for power”, leading to conflict and unrest
Hobbes view of human nature
- Humans are needy and vulnerable
- capacity to reason is fragile
Why did Hobbes believe people would submit to a strong government
- Self-interested and rational people would choose to sacrifice many of their rights s in return for order (submit to the absolute authority of the state)
- Total obedience to absolute government
Main ideas of Edmund Burke (4)
- Tradition
- Organic view of society
- Empiricism / pragmatism
- Gradual change
What did Burke believe tradition and empiricism promotes?
- Social continuity and stability
- strong sense of historical identity
Main beliefs of Oakeshott
- Pragmatism
- Tradition
- Organic view of society
Key ideas of Ayn Rand
- Objectivism
- Rolling back the state in the economy
- Atomism
- Optimistic view of human nature
Key ideas of Nozick (4)
-Atomism
-Optimistic view of Human Nature
-Minimal or ‘night watchman’ state
-self-ownership
Burke view of the social reform
Reform should be limited and cautious, based on tradition and empiricism
Oakeshott view on pragmitism
- can deliver best interests and bring social stability and cohesion
- is flexible
Oakeshott views on rationalism (3)
- Rejects rationalist policies
- Believes they lead to destruction
- creation of a new political and social order
Ayn Rand view of objectivism (3)
- advocates the virtues of rational self-interests
- rational pursuit of self-interest
- altruism bad because created an artificial sense of ‘social obligation’
Why did Ayn Rand reject government welfare
- believed it relied on the implicit threat of force to ensure that people contribute to such schemes through taxation
What did Robert Nozick believe about humans
Rations, self-aware beings
Why did Robert Nozick believe that taxes are immoral (2)
- Type of forced labour imposed by the state
- treat individuals as a means to further the goals of equality
What did Nozick believe the state should be
- Minimal/ Night watchman state
- anything more compromises self-ownership
What did Nozick believe about taxes
- form of slavery
- state gives others entitlement over an individual’s labour
