Conservatism Flashcards
(25 cards)
Key Conservative Thinkers
1) Thomas Hobbes
2) Edmund Burke
3) Ayn Rand
4) Michael Oakeshott
5) Robert Nozick
Hobbes Key Ideas
1) Negative human nature
2) State needs to regulate behaviour
3) No society before state - “nasty, brutish and short”
4) Rationality to seek order
Leviathan (1651)
Burke Key Ideas
1) Change to conserve
2) Natural hierarchy
3) Hereditary ruling class
4) Paternalistic obligation
5) Property Rights
6) “little platoons” - community that regulates itself
7) Laissez-faire
Reflections on the French Revolution (1790)
Michael Oakeshott Key Ideas
1) Humanity mainly benevolent but mistakes
2) Traditional state
3) Local communities
4) State regulates capitalism
On Being Conservative (1962)
Ayn Rand Key Ideas
1) Most talented should rule
2) Minimal state
3) Atomistic society
4) Property Rights
5) Laissez-faire
6) Rational humans
Atlas Shrugged (1957)
Robert Nozick Key Ideas
1) Laissez-faire
2) Atomistic society
3) Property Rights
4) Minarchist state
5) Egotistical people strive for their own goals
6) Local communities
Anarchy, State and Utopia (1974)
Conservative views on society?
1) Negative
2) Organicism
3) Tradition
4) Judeo-Christian Morals
5) “Little platoons”
6) Natural hierarchy
7) Atomistic
Conservative views on economy?
1) Property Rights
2) Regulated Capitalism
3) Laissez-faire
4) Minarchism
Conservative views of state?
1) Minarchist
2) Strong state
3) Natural hierarchy
4) Educated herediatry or expert ruling class
5) Paternalistic Obligation
6) Law & Order
7) Organicism
Conservative views on human nature?
1) Negative
2) Flawed and constant
3) Benevolent but mistakes
4) Rational/ Egotistical
Types of Traditional Conservatism
1) Traditional Conservatism
2) Christian Democracy
Key Ideas of Traditional Conservatism
1) Reaction to French Rev
2) Strong state
3) Change to conserve
4) Tradition + empiricism
5) Property Rights
Key Ideas of Christian Democracy
1) After WW2
2) Comparable to one-nation but in Europe
3) Supra-nationalism
4) Shares characteristics with Traditional Con.
Key Ideas of One-Nation
1) Welfare State
2) Nation State
3) Paternalistic Obligation
4) Nationalism
5) Change to conserve
Key Ideas of Neo-Conservatism
1) Minarchist/ Minimal State
2) Judeo-Christian Morals
3) Laissez-faire
4) Rational humans
Background of Hobbes?
- Private tutor to wealthy family
- Lived through English Civil War
- Chaos of the war influenced his support for monarchy
Background of Burke?
- MP for Whig Party
- Reacted to violence of French Revolution
- Supported US independence
- Opposed slavery
Background of Oakeshott?
- Son of civil servant
- Fought in WW2
- Criticised communism & fascism
- Numerous affairs
- Refused Thatcher knighthood
Background of Ayn Rand?
- Born in Russia
- Saw violence of 1917 Revolutions
- Family’s wealth stripped by Communists
- Moved to America where she flourished
Background of Nozick?
- Born in New York
- Taught Philosophy at Harvard - colleague of Rawls
Tensions around Society?
AGREE:
- Natural hierarchy
- Inequality desirable
DISAGREE:
- Trad: Little platoons
- Neo: Atomistic
Tensions around Economy?
AGREE:
- Capitalism
- Property Rights
DISAGREE:
- Trad: Regulation
- Neo: Laissez-faire
Tensions around State?
AGREE:
- Strong state
- Need ruling class
DISAGREE:
- Trad: Larger state + hereditary & paternal
- Neo: Minarchist
Tensions around Human nature?
AGREE:
- See humanity as it is
DISAGREE:
- Trad: Flawed (but could be benevolent OAKE)
- Neo: Individualistic
