1 Conservativism: core ideas and principles

Question 1

human imperfection

Hobbes work

Answer 1

• Leviathan
• 1651

Question 2

human imperfection

Why did Hobbes argue human imperfection cannot be aoided?

desires, SON

Answer 2

• humans desire power and material gratification
• due to the ‘state of nature’ humans are inherently distrusting of others. The State of Nature was a society before the state existed, a violent anarchy

Question 3

human imperfection

Hobbes and the State of Nature quote

Answer 3

life was ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short’

Question 4

human imperfection

hobbes social contract

Answer 4

• individuals would seek a ‘social contract’ surrendering individual autonomy to a sovereign monarch, who would provide protection from anarchy through their authority

Question 5

human imperfection

writer Noel O’Sullivans 3 distinct categories of human imperfection

Answer 5

• morally imperfect: selfish
• intellectually imperfect: humans cannot comprehend reality
• psychologically imperfect: humans are security driven and rely on tradition for identify

Question 6

human imperfection

how did Burke agree and disagree with Hobbes?

Answer 6

• both agreed humans are imperfect
• Burke thought imperfection was much deeper than what Hobbes analysed

Question 7

human imperfection

Burke thought humans were naturally what>

Answer 7

• communal
• imperfection compels them into communities that are supportive

Question 8

human imperfection

What did Burke think about human making mistakes

Answer 8

• they could not make destructive mistakes
• their small scope of reason holds them back

Question 9

human imperfection

how should change be considered according to Burke?

Answer 9

• empircally
• not based on abstract thought
• ‘politics ought to be adjusted not to human reasonings but to human nature, of which reason is but a part and by no means the greatest part’

Question 10

human imperfection

Michael Oakeshott has far more in common with _ than with _?

Answer 10

• Burke than Hobbes

q

Question 11

human imperfection

what did he think about human morals?

oakeshott

Answer 11

• ‘fragile and fallible’ but capable of benevolence

Question 12

human imperfection

how did Oakeshott see society?

Answer 12

• organic
• consists of intricate customs and traditions that provide comfort
• paradise promised by uptopian societies is unobtainable
• perfection cannot be created by imperfect ctreatures

Question 13

human imperfection

Empircism. Definition and Example

Answer 13

• changes are informed by past experience
• Eg. Peels decision to remove the corn laws in 1846 put the good of society above tradition

Question 14

human imperfection

rationalism

Answer 14

• changes are informed by abstract ideas
• Eg. Macmillan adopting Keynesianism based on rational economic blueprint of the state over laissez-faire limited government

Question 15

organic society or state

what is an organic society?

Answer 15

• society grows and emerges
• it is not createdq

Question 16

organic society or state

individual rights are dependent on

Answer 16

• law and order
• only the state has the authority to give individual rights a practical meaning

Question 17

organic society or state

How did Burke think of society?

quote

Answer 17

‘little platoons’ or communities that retain their identity and enable wider integration within the nation
- these communities have rules and are bound by affection and cooperation

Question 18

organic society or state

What did Burke think was vital in maintaining order? How was this linked to the french revolution?

Answer 18

• the landed aristocracy
• the french revolution meant the withering of the aristocracy
• for the aristocracy, maintaining organic subdivisions of society was vital

Question 19

organic society or state

Burke and subdivisions quote

‘T B A T T S, T L T L P W B T I S, I T F P O P A’

Answer 19

‘to be attatched to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle of public affections’

Question 20

maintaining society

what does Burke think is key in maintaining societ?

TRA, ANC INS, INA

Answer 20

• traditions, customs, and institutions give individuals a sense of belonging, and through this they will follow the law to maintain society
• Ancient institutions should not be tampered with unless they are damaging society
• Inaction can damage society ‘A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation’

Question 21

An unequal society

what did Hobbes, Burke, and Oakeshott think about an unequal society? was it inevitable.

Answer 21

• yes.
• there is a natural order where each individual has their placde, as individuals are of unequal talents and ability

Question 22

An unequal society

Hobbes thought society should be ruled

Answer 22

by an absolute monarch

Question 23

An unequal society

burke thought society should be ruled by

Answer 23

the aristocracy as they were wiser and stronger than everyone else.

Question 24

An unequal society

all conservatives accept what? what does society remain?

Answer 24

• democracy
• society remains hierarchical
• the paternalism of noblesse oblige can nbve found in post-war one-nationism and neoconservativism

Question 25

# pragmatism what are pragmatic thinkers informed by>

Answer 25

- empiricism

Question 26

# pragmatism How is pragmatism shown in conservatives: Burkes idea? later one-nationism?

Answer 26

- Burkes idea of '*change to conserve'* was pragmatic - these changes were derived from empircism - later one-nation conservativism embodied in conservative governments **1951-1979** pragmatically accepted and continued radical changes made to British society by Attlees Labour government

Question 27

# tradition what did GK Chesterson refer to tradition as/

Answer 27

- *'democracy of the dead'*

Question 28

# tradition what represents tradition for the conservatives? what did Burke think? what did Oakeshott think?

Answer 28

- institutions of state and customs of society that have proven to be fit for purpose. **Eg.** The monarchy in the UK, the constitution in America - Religion binds society together. Burke thought atheism was driving society apart. - Oakeshott thought the decline of religion after the 1960s meant individuals are more inclined to rationalistic ideas that are harmful

Question 29

# tradition Burke and long-standing insittutions?

Answer 29

- they have lots of wisdom - humans should trust these institutions and traditions to guide them, *'wisdom without reflection'*

Question 30

# tradition for Burke, what are key examples of the damaging consequences of going against these institutions?

Answer 30

- the french and russian revolutions

Question 31

# paternalism what changed paternalism in history/

Answer 31

- industrialisation - was extremely exploitive. - early one-nation response to the possibility of revolutioonary socialism

Question 32

# tradition the ruling elite of the **19th** century accepted obligations to the new industrial working class by?

Answer 32

- enacting social reforms to help the poorest in society and preserving societyt

Question 33

# tradition post ww2 paternalism; macmillan?

Answer 33

- paternalistically motivated one-nation conservatives intervened with both society and the economy - **Eg.** Macmilan supported the concept of the NHS and universal state education (soft paternalism) - Neo-conservatives argue paternalistic welfarism of the post-war period meant the poorest became hopelessly dependent on the state and traditional conservativism had been forgotten

Question 34

# libertarianism what does libertarianism emphasise

Answer 34

negative freedom and minimal state intervention

Question 35

# libertarianism how did traditional conservativism in the **18th century** see libertarianism?

Answer 35

- minimal state intervention overall - only with the growth of welfare spending that income tax became a compulsory requirement of the state

Question 36

# libertarianism Which type of thinking about society do neo-liberals prefer? what do they reject?

Answer 36

- rationalism - people are able to order their lives on a moral and logical basis - they reject empircisim, which puts them against traditional, one nation, and neoconservatives who prefer it

Question 37

# libertarianism what type of individualism do neo-liberals believe in ? what type of freedom ?

Answer 37

- egotistical individualism: the rights of the individual are more important than the rights of the state - negative freedom (freedom FROM)

Question 38

# libertarianism what did Friedrich Hayek argue about the state

Answer 38

extensive welfare states should be abolished as they will eventually bankrupt society

Question 39

# libertarianism what did Nozick support legalisation of?

Answer 39

- hard drugs and prostitution - offending the religous morality of neo conservatives and go against long standing conservative traditions

Question 40

# Paternalism, pragmatism, and covid 19 (**Eg.**) one nation conservativism (johnson) and neo-conservativism (trump) during covid.

Answer 40

- both agreed to huge state intervention that would normally never be carried out in normal times - **Eg.** enforcement of lockdowns and furloughing the workforce - **Eg.** Republicans Covid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act - $2.2 trillion