Conservatism

Question 1

Who are the Traditional Conservatives?

Answer 1

Burke and Hobbes

Question 2

Who are the One-Nation Conservatives?

Answer 2

Only Oakshott

Question 3

Who are the New Right, Neo-Liberal Conservatives?

Answer 3

Rand and Nozick

Question 4

How does Burke view an ideal state?

Answer 4

Paternalism: noblesse oblige, the ruling class will govern in the interests of all

Question 5

Burke says the state is akin to what?

Answer 5

Akin to a plant

Question 6

What does Burke think of Capitalism and free trade?

Answer 6

Supports free trade

Question 7

What does Burke ask of landlords?

Answer 7

Landlords to be fair to their tenants

Question 8

Burke outlines localism in society, what is this?

Answer 8

Local production and consumption of goods

Question 9

What is favoured by Burke, between generations in society?

Answer 9

Empiricism (experience), tradition and partnership between generations is favoured

Question 10

Burke has an organic view of which two things?

Answer 10

Society and change (pragmatic)

Question 11

What would Burke’s ideal society look like?

Answer 11

Society of ‘little platoons’: small, largely autonomous communities

Question 12

How does Burke say change must occur?

Answer 12

Change must be cautious: change to conserve

Question 13

What is Burke’s, slightly pessimistic, view of human nature?

Answer 13

Human imperfection, Mankind’s fallibility- tendency to fail more than succeed

Question 14

Burke believes there is a natural class of what?

Answer 14

There is a natural class of born rulers

Question 15

Why was Burke critical of revolution?

Answer 15

Revolution represents an unrealistic view of human nature (utopian)

Question 16

Which aspect of human nature was Burke critical of?

Answer 16

Critical of rationalism

Question 17

How does Hobbes believe we should be governed?

Answer 17

Via social contract theory of government (Individuals consensually cede authority to a sovereign body)

Question 18

When can the people complain about the state’s actions (Hobbes)?

Answer 18

If state threatens to kill people

Question 19

What were Hobbes’ thoughts on government?

Answer 19

Not especially hopeful, but gov prevents people from falling into a state of war

Question 20

How does Hobbes see legal and physical protection enacted?

Answer 20

By a strong, authoritative government

Question 21

How does Hobbes define economic activity?

Answer 21

As the rationalisation of selfishness

Question 22

What does Hobbes say on the accumulation of wealth?

Answer 22

It is the necessary, but insufficient condition for the modern economy

Question 23

Hobbes labelled society as a what?

Answer 23

Survival of the fittest system

Question 24

Why does Hobbes argue an unaccountable sovereign is needed?

Answer 24

Human beings can only live together in peace and without civil conflict, with an unaccountable sovereign

Question 25

Describe Hobbes’ state of nature.

Answer 25

Not a pretty place: humans left alone quickly descended into nasty, intolerable bickering

Question 26

What does Hobbes believe humans are driven by?

Answer 26

Self-interest

Question 27

How does Oakshott outline the role of the state?

Answer 27

Exists to prevent the bad, rather than to create good, keeps its people afloat without fixating on a destination

Question 28

What does Oakshott say ideology leads to?

Answer 28

Leads to dogma, control and even tyranny (Communism, Fascism)

Question 29

What is Oakshott’s belief in politics of scepticism?

Answer 29

Faith in trusted institutions and empiricism (experience)

Question 30

Which type of economy does Oakshott support?

Answer 30

Free market economy

Question 31

How does Oakshott feel about state intervention in the economy?

Answer 31

Skeptical, prefers individual freedom in the economy and a limited government

Question 32

Which societal value did Oakshott highlight?

Answer 32

Importance of family

Question 33

Which approach to life did Oakshott recommend?

Answer 33

Empirical and pragmatic (practical, but flexible)

Question 34

Hobbes said modern society is what?

Answer 34

Unpredictable and complex

Question 35

Why did Oakshott say change should be incremental?

Answer 35

For social stability

Question 36

How did Oakshott describe human nature?

Answer 36

'Fallible but not terrible' and 'Imperfect but not immoral'

Question 37

What is Oakshott’s ‘politics of faith’?

Answer 37

Human imperfection and sceptical of rationalism (oversimplifies the world)

Question 38

Which freedom does Rand support?

Answer 38

Negative freedom

Question 39

What is Rand’s stance on how the state should operate?

Answer 39

Rolling back the frontiers of the state, small state, only role of the state is to protect individual rights

Question 40

What are Rand’s views on homosexuality and abortion?

Answer 40

'Right to choose'

Question 41

How does Rand approach welfare provision?

Answer 41

Opposed to state welfare provision

Question 42

What does Rand think of Capitalism?

Answer 42

Supports laissez-faire brand of Capitalism

Question 43

What does Rand’s ideal economy look like?

Answer 43

Tax cuts, privatisation and the free market

Question 44

How does Rand feel about Anarchism?

Answer 44

Rejected any suggestion of anarchism

Question 45

Who does Rand say 'lay at the heart of a successful society'?

Answer 45

Talented individuals

Question 46

What are Rand’s views on society?

Answer 46

Atomistic society, society does not exist in a practical form, disliked an organic society

Question 47

Rand thought any collective was what?

Answer 47

A threat to individualism

Question 48

Why wasn’t Rand opposed to charity?

Answer 48

Because of voluntarism: choice not obligation

Question 49

What did Rand say we should all be guided by?

Answer 49

Self-interest and ration self-fulfilment (objectivism)

Question 50

How did Rand describe individuals?

Answer 50

Rational, autonomous individuals, with a moral purpose of self-fulfilment, rejects the idea of human imperfection

Question 51

Which liberal idea of the state does Nozick reject?

Answer 51

The idea of a social contract

Question 52

Describe Nozick’s view of the state.

Answer 52

Organic state, with a limited government, 'Minarchist' state: outsourcing public services to private companies, little platoons

Question 53

Nozick thought government growth was what?

Answer 53

A threat to individual freedom

Question 54

What are Nozick’s views on tax?

Answer 54

Tax is theft, for the most part

Question 55

What are Nozick’s thoughts on Capitalism?

Answer 55

Supports free-market Capitalism

Question 56

How does Nozick propose we structure the economy?

Answer 56

Invisible hand, privatisation, natural property rights and self-ownership

Question 57

How does Nozick feel about welfare provision?

Answer 57

Welfare provision is dependency

Question 58

How should the state interact with society, in Nozick’s view?

Answer 58

Not at all, individual should be left alone in social and cultural spheres as well

Question 59

What is Nozick’s ‘Permissive society’?

Answer 59

Relaxed view on abortion, divorce and homosexuality

Question 60

Was Nozick optimistic or pessimistic about human nature?

Answer 60

Optimistic view of human nature

Question 61

Why did Nozick acknowledge the need for formal authority?

Answer 61

Dishonesty, theft and violence still factor in (Hobbes)

Question 62

What were Nozick’s fundamental beliefs of human nature?

Answer 62

Rationalism, but critical of Rawls’ theory of justice rationalism, and individualism