conservatism Flashcards
ideologies (18 cards)
define human imperfection
Humans are flawed which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves.
define pragmatism
Flexible approach to society with decisions being made on the basis of what works.
define paternalism
Gentle power exerted from above by the state, that governs in the interests of the people.
define changing to conserve
Distinguishes a conservative from a reactionary. If something valuable is to be preserved, it has to be continually updated and maintained.
oakeshott on tradition
Oakeshott explains that the conservative deposition is “to prefer the familiar to the unknown, to prefer the tried to the untried… the actual to the possible.”
nozick on natural justice
Nozick defended the concept of natural justice. Justice is served by considering that which would occur naturally without state interference.
Justice should be based on moral entitlement. We are entitled to use our resources as we see fit.
nozick on minimal state
A minimal state would only be concerned with the enforcement of contracts and protection against theft.
Nozick criticised the redistribution of wealth because it undermines the rights of the individual.
rand on objectivism
We can attain knowledge via reason and logic.
The prime moral purpose of life is the individual pursuit of happiness.
Objectivism therefore favours a political and economic system consistent with both individualism and laissez-faire capitalism.
Rand advocated for rational egoism, rather than ethical egoism
rand on free market capitalism
Rand’s character comment that money is the root of all evil, he asks “Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is that what you consider evil?”
Rand praises wealth-creators on the basis of the Biblical notion that he who does not work shall not eat.
oakeshott on the role of the state
The state cannot create a new society or a utopia based upon notions of social progress.
We should merely seek to keep the ship of state afloat.
It is advisable to adopt a sceptical position in regards to state intervention and social engineering.
Two modes of social organisation:
Enterprise association - the state is imposing a universal purpose on its subjects. This is based on a faith in humans to grasp a universal good.
Civil association - a legal relationship in which laws impose obligatory conditions of action. This is based on scepticism about the ability of humans to attain this good.
burke on imperfection
Burke rejected the Enlightenment view that humans are rational entities.
Instead, he claimed humans are both imperfect and imperfectible. Any attempt to create a system based upon perfectibility of man is contrary to our innate character.
burke on pragmatism
Burke believed “society is but a contract between the dead, the living, and those yet to be born.”
For a true conservative, society needs to reflect the past, consider the present, and meet the needs of future generations.
burke on paternalism and heirarchy
Burke goes as far as to claim that the ruling classes are the only ones who can govern the country in a disinterested manner. Middle- and working-class groups would serve their own group’s interest rather than the national interest.
Each component must play their part on the basis of a living organism: society.
hobbes on the state of nature
Hobbes described life in a state of nature as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.”
Social order therefore demands a decisive and coercive role for the state. Hobbes prescribes a dominant role for the state to prevent anarchy.
On closer inspection, it is the people who constitute the Leviathan. It is the people who provide legitimacy and consent to be governed in this authoritarian fashion.
what is the primacy of order
the states main role is to ensure safety and sercurity
oakeshott said ‘ prevent the bad rather than create the good’
hobbes - safety and security are impossible without authority , law and order
formal authority is provided by the state is the precondition of society and therefore liberty and individual rights
whats a limited heirarchy
it is the structure of the state most thinkers accept the state openly being heirarchical and eliteist as it refelcts the unequal society they defended
hobbes- in order to maintain peace and security the states power would have to be concentrated turning the state into a leviathan
if it wasnt concentrated it would create more issues
whats an aristocratic state
a state structure limited by clear formal rules and a robust society
burke states that aristocratic and heirarchical goves must be limited by a constitution
burke also wants aristocratic rule to be limited by a stron gonfident society guranteed by a myriad of little platoons - oakeshott describes as limiting the leviathan preventing the state from becoming nasty and brutish itself
what is one nation conservatism
