Conservatism

Question 1

Strands

Answer 1

Traditional Conservatism
One Nation Conservatism
New Right
- Neo-conservative
- Neo-liberal

Question 2

Core Beliefs

Answer 2

Human Imperfection
Organic State/Society
Libertarianism
Pragmatism
Paternalism
Tradition

Question 3

Key Thinkers

Answer 3

Edmund Burke
Thomas Hobbes
Michael Oakeshott
Ayn Rand
Robert Nozick

Question 4

Believed needed order in society

Answer 4

Thomas Hobbes

Question 5

In state of nature: “every man is enemy to every man” and “the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”

Answer 5

Thomas Hobbes

Question 6

Believed that humans are needy and vulnerable and humans are easily led astray in their attempts to understand the world around them

Answer 6

Thomas Hobbes

Question 7

Empiricist and believed in tradition

Answer 7

Edmund Burke

Question 8

Believed change is vital, but needs to be gradual, cautious and organic/natural
“A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation”

Answer 8

Edmund Burke

Question 9

Society: “boundless and bottomless”

Answer 9

Michael Oakeshott

Question 10

Believed that needed to be careful that “the cure is not worse than the disease”

Answer 10

Michael Oakeshott

Question 11

“To be conservative, then is to prefer the familiar to the unknown…the actual to the possible”

Answer 11

Michael Oakeshott

Question 12

“The enterprise is to keep afloat”

Answer 12

Michael Oakeshott

Question 13

Objectivism

Answer 13

Ayn Rand

Question 14

Believed individuals cannot be treated as a ‘thing’ or used against their will as a tool

Answer 14

Robert Nozick

Question 15

“Individuals have rights and there are things no person or group may do to them”

Answer 15

Robert Nozick

Question 16

Agreements over the state

Answer 16

A state is necessary
State should preserve social traditions

Question 17

Disagreements over the state

Answer 17

The state’s role in the economy
Whether the state should provide welfare and support

Question 18

Agreements over the economy

Answer 18

There should be a market economy

Question 19

Disagreements over the economy

Answer 19

State involvement in economy
Changes with economy

Question 20

Agreements over human nature

Answer 20

Humans are morally imperfect

Question 21

Disagreements over human nature

Answer 21

The extent that humans are intellectually imperfect
The extent that humans are psychologically imperfect

Question 22

Agreements over society

Answer 22

State has key role to play in creating social stability

Question 23

Disagreements over society

Answer 23

Importance of society
Type of society
Changes in society