Conservatism Flashcards
Traditional conservatism thinkers
Edmund Burke (1729-97)
Developed arguments for gradual change, tradition and empiricism.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
Thinker that wrote about the state of nature
Had some influence on later social contract theories
Famous work; “Leviathan”
One nation conservatism thinkers
Michael Oackshott (1901-90)
British political philosopher who wrote ‘rationalism in politics’ (1962) and ‘On Human Conduct’ (1975)
Disraeli: (PM twice)
Belief in a paternalistic society
The belief that the working class should receive support from establishments.
The New Right (Neoconservative)
thinkers
Margaret Thatcher:
The Iron Lady
Reduce power of trade unions
Wanted people less dependent on the state
The New Right (Neoliberal)
Ayn Rand (1905-1982)
Radical ideas
‘Atlas Shrugged’
Strong focus on freedom and individuality.
Robert Nozick (1938-2002)
Right wing libertarian
‘Anarchy, the state and Utopia
TWE do conservatives agree about human nature?
agree: all conservatives largely agree that humans are self-interested.
“Man — every man — is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others.” – The Virtue of Selfishness (1964)
Rand embraced self-interest as a virtue, believing it to be the foundation of freedom and innovation. While her tone differs from Hobbes’s, both acknowledge that self-interest is a fundamental driver of human behaviour.
“the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” – Leviathan (1651). Hobbes believed that humans act in the state of nature, act in their own self-interest, often violently, unless restrained by a powerful authority
agree: human nature is flawed and imperfect (pessimistic view) ‘
The New Right (Neoliberal) – Robert Nozick
“There are only individual people, different individual people, with their own individual lives.”
– Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974)
Nozick starts from the premise that individuals are self-interested and cannot be relied upon to act for the collective good. His emphasis on minimal state intervention assumes that human nature is naturally driven by self-preservation and liberty rather than altruism or perfectibility.
disagree: humans capacity to reason
“Man’s mind is his basic tool of survival.”
— Atlas Shrugged (1957)
Meaning: Rand believed that human beings are fundamentally rational and capable of shaping their own destiny through logic, reason, and individualism. She rejects the idea that people are inherently flawed or need tradition to guide them. Her philosophy (Objectivism) sees reason as the highest virtue.
Oakshott (one nation) “To be conservative, then, is to prefer the tried to the untried, fact to mystery, the actual to the possible.”
— Rationalism in Politics (1962)
Meaning: Oakeshott is critical of the idea that humans can reason their way to a perfect political order. He argues that political life is complex, and relying too much on abstract reason can lead to disastrous utopian experiments. This shows a deep skepticism of the rationalist optimism held by people like Rand.
TWE do conservatives agree on society?
agree:All conservatives agree that social hierarchy is justifiable
Traditional- Burke
“Society is indeed a contract… it is a partnership not only between those who are living but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.”// belief in a natural, organic society where hierarchy evolves over time and is preserved through tradition. For Burke, social hierarchy is not arbitrary but rooted in historical continuity and empirical experience.
Neoliberal (new right)- Nozick
“Taxation of earnings from labor is on a par with forced labor.”
While Nozick emphasizes individual liberty and minimal state interference, his rejection of redistributive justice implies acceptance of social and economic inequalities—thus justifying a hierarchical society based on talent, effort, and market outcomes.
agree:One nation and traditional conservatives agree on taking a pragmatic or gradualistic approach to society.
Oakshott- One nation
“To be conservative… is to prefer the tried to the untried, fact to mystery, the actual to the possible.”// preference for the known and tried// gradualism
Burke- traditional conservatism
“A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.”
(Reflections on the Revolution in France, 1790)// change is acceptable however should be slow and careful
disagree: Neoconservatives and traditional conservatives disagree on whether there is an organic society or not.
Neoconservatism (New right)- Thatcher
“There is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families.” // rejection of the idea of a holistic, organic society. Instead, she emphasizes individual responsibility and the role of the family unit, aligning with the New Right’s focus on self-reliance and reducing dependency on the state.
Traditional conservatism- Burke
“Society is indeed a contract… not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.” // belief in an organic society, where people are bound together across generations in a natural, evolving structure. It highlights the traditional conservative emphasis on continuity, tradition, and intergenerational duty.
TWE do conservatives agree on the economy?
agree: All conservatism strands accept capitalism and believe in the protection of private property
New Right (Neoliberal): Robert Nozick
“Taxation of earnings from labor is on a par with forced labour.”
– Robert Nozick, “Anarchy, State, and Utopia” (1974)//an radical defense of private property and free-market capitalism, foundational to the New Right. He argues any state interference (like taxation) infringes on individual liberty and the right to enjoy the full fruits of one’s labor—underscoring the neoliberal commitment to capitalism and property rights.
Traditional Conservatism: Edmund Burke
“The power of perpetuating our property in our families is one of the most valuable and interesting circumstances belonging to it.”
– Edmund Burke, “Reflections on the Revolution in France” (1790)
This quote supports the traditional conservative belief in property as a source of stability, tradition, and social order. Burke sees property not just as an economic tool, but as a moral and societal anchor, passed through generations, preserving tradition.
disagree: Pragmatic approach to social and economic change or an ideological approach to social and economic change; (rand vs thatcher or one nation)
Traditional Conservatism (Edmund Burke — Pragmatic Approach):
“A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation.” – Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)// supported gradual, pragmatic change, rooted in tradition and empiricism — change only when necessary to preserve stability. His approach rejects ideological extremes in favour of adapting to reality through cautious reform.
New Right Neoliberalism (Ayn Rand — Ideological Approach):
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand//radical, ideological belief in individualism and minimal state intervention, contrasting strongly with Burke’s pragmatism. Rand’s libertarian philosophy is rooted in a clear ideological stance that prioritizes freedom over social cohesion or tradition.
disagree: Lassez-faire (“let do”) economics (traditional vs one nation conservatism)
One nation conservatism- Benjamin Disraeli
“The palace is not safe when the cottage is not happy.”//paternalistic approach, believing that the upper classes have a responsibility to support the working classes. One Nation Conservatives are generally more skeptical of pure laissez-faire economics and favor limited state intervention to avoid social division.
Traditional conservatism- Burke
“Society is indeed a contract… it is a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.”// tradition, social duty, and cautious change. Traditional conservatives often oppose radical free-market economics because it disrupts social bonds and inherited institutions, which they see as essential for stability.
TWE do conservatives agree on the state?
agree; All conservatives agree that the primary purpose of the state is to maintain law and order.
Traditional Conservatism – Thomas Hobbes
“The condition of man… is a condition of war of everyone against everyone.” – Leviathan (1651)// Hobbes argued that without a strong state authority, society would collapse into chaos. For him, maintaining law and order was the fundamental reason for the state’s existence, showing how early conservatives viewed security and stability as paramount
New Right (Neoliberal) – Robert Nozick
“The minimal state is the most extensive state that can be justified. Any state more extensively violates people’s rights.” – Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974)//Nozick also believed in a role for the state, but only to protect individuals’ rights, including enforcing contracts and protecting against force or fraud. This shows a more limited view of law and order, but still agrees that its preservation is essential.
disagree; Paternalistic view to the state (rich should provide for the poor)
Robert Nozick (Neoliberal – New Right)
“Taxation of earnings from labor is on a par with forced labor.”
— Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974)// Nozick believes redistributing wealth via the state is a violation of individual liberty. He sees forced redistribution (e.g., rich providing for the poor through tax) as morally equivalent to slavery.
Michael Oakeshott (One-Nation Conservative)
“To be conservative… is to prefer the tried to the untried, fact to mystery, the actual to the possible.”
— Rationalism in Politics (1962)//Oakeshott rejects grand state schemes for social engineering, including redistribution. His conservatism values pragmatic governance, not ideological social welfare policies. Even within One-Nation thinking, there’s hesitation about state paternalism when it’s overly rationalist or utopian
disagree; Authoritarian state vs libertarian and free trade state
Traditional conservatism (authoritarian) Hobbes
“Covenants, without the sword, are but words, and of no strength to secure a man at all.” – Leviathan (1651)
Hobbes argues that a strong, centralized authority (the “Leviathan”) is essential to prevent disorder, reflecting a belief in the need for an authoritarian state to maintain security and stability.
New Right (Neoliberal) – Robert Nozick (libertarian):
“Individuals have rights, and there are things no person or group may do to them (without violating their rights).” – Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974)
Nozick promotes a minimal state that only protects basic rights, opposing any form of authoritarian control, and endorsing maximum personal and economic freedom.
