Conservatism views on the economy and human nature

Question 1

Traditional conservatives thinkers = ?

Answer 1

-Thomas Hobbes
-Edward Burke

Question 2

What economic system do traditional conservatives support?

Answer 2

Laissez-fairre economics [similar to new right thinking]

Question 3

What does trade involve?

Answer 3

Trade involved growing the organic free markets

Question 4

What does Thomas Hobbs think about the economy?

Answer 4

there is a need for some state intervention in order to guarantee order and security as without this it is impossible for constructive and enduring economic activity to work.

Question 5

If a country is suffering economically what do Traditional conservatives think should happen?

Answer 5

If the country is suffering then protectionism is needed, this can come in the form of rising inserts rates, import tax and regulated markets.

Question 6

If traditional conservatives support protectionism then what else must they support?

Answer 6

If they are to support protectionism then they must then think there should be some forms of government involvement in the economy [different to new right/similar to one nation]

Question 7

New right conservative key thinkers = ?

Answer 7

-Ayn Rand
-Robert Nozick

Question 8

New right view on the economy?

Answer 8

-Complete separation of the state and the economy
-Monetarism policies
-Deregulation
-Laissez faire policies

Question 9

Examples of new right economies?

Answer 9

-Thatcher’s Britain
-Ronald Regan’s America

Question 10

What is the governments only role in the economy?

Answer 10

The Government’s only role here is to solve disputes between corporations and businesses.

Question 11

One nation conservatives key thinkers = ?

Answer 11

-Michael Oakeshott

Question 12

What do one nation Tories believe about the economy?

Answer 12

-Keynesian economics
-High or full employment
-Mixed economy
-State intervention is necessary for economic growth

Question 13

Example of one nation conservative economy?

Answer 13

Harold Macmillan in the 1950s and early 60s

Question 14

What does Michael Oakeshott think about the economy?

Answer 14

Free markets are volatile and unpredictable and they may require pragmatic moderation by the state.

Question 15

Difference between Burke and Hobbes?

Answer 15

-Hobbes believes in some form of state intervention [closer to one nation]
-Burke believes in free markers and laissez faire capitalism [closer to new right]

Question 16

What is one similarity between all conservatives on the issue of the economy?

Answer 16

They all believe that capitalism should be the prevailing economic system, they just differ on the implementation of such principles

Question 17

Traditional conservative view on human nature = ?

Answer 17

-Negative view on humans
-Humans are inherently bad.

Question 18

What does Thomas Hobbes say about human nature?

Answer 18

Life in a state of nature would be “Nasty, Brutish and short”. = Thomas Hobbs

Question 19

What does Edmund Burke think about human nature?

Answer 19

He rejects the enlightenment view that humans are inherently good people. he follows Judea christian morality and as a result believes humans inherited original sin from Adam and Eve, this is what makes them bad.

Question 20

What do New right conservatives
think about human nature?

Answer 20

-People are naturally bad
-Negative view of humans
-Inherently selfish

Question 21

What does Ayn Rand think about human nature?

Answer 21

Ayn Rand believes in the ideas of objectivism, this leads to New tight Conservatives having an overall negative view on human nature, people are naturally bad. Rand thinks that humans can be inherently selfish

Question 22

What does Robert Nozick think about human nature?

Answer 22

-Robert Nozick believes in individual autonomy and the right to self-determination, this sets him apart from the rest of the conservatives.

-Nozick is closer to John Smith than any other conservative.

-Nozick in favour of ‘little platoons’ despite being different than the rest of the conservatives.

Question 23

What do one nation conservatives think about human nature?

Answer 23

-Humans are bad, thus they need to be helped through the ideas of paternalism

Question 24

What is paternalism?

Answer 24

Those at the top of society should look after those at the bottom of society, they have a duty to support them, the idea comes from the bible.

Question 25

What does Michael Oakeshott think about human nature?

Answer 25

-He had a modest view, this sets him apart from all other conservatives.

-Humanity is at its best when it’s free from grand designs and when focused on the routines of everyday life.

Question 26

What do all conservative branches agree on [to do with human nature]?

Answer 26

All conservatives believe that inherently humans are bad.