Conservatism Flashcards
(7 cards)
Origins of conservatism
- Late 18th century as a reaction to the French Revolution and Enlightenment ideals.
- Emphasized tradition, gradual change
Key Thinkers: Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)
Traditional
Human Nature
- Humans are selfish
State
- Strong state to keep order
Society
- No real society until a state is formed
Economy
- No safe economy can exist without a strong state
Key Thinkers: Edmund Burke (1729–1797)
Traditional
Human Nature
- Try to be perfect but can’t achieve it
State
- Constitutional and hierarchical
Society
- Made of small communities, platoons
Economy
- Free markets and laissez-faire capitalism
Key Thinkers: Michael Oakeshott (1901–1990)
Traditional
Human Nature
- Generally peacefull
State
- Should be guided by traditions
Society
- Works best when it’s made up of local communities
Economy
- Free markets volatile state may have to step in sometimes
Key Thinkers: Ayn Rand (1905–1982)
New Right
Human Nature
- Rational, driven by self-interest, pursuit of individual fulfilment
State
- Should only uphold law, order, and national defence
Society
- Atomistic, collection of individuals
Economy
- Free-market capitalism is the purest form of individual freedom
Key Thinkers: Robert Nozick (1938–2002)
New Right
Human Nature
- Self-owning, motivated by personal autonomy and self-fulfilment
State
- Minimal protects life, property, contracts
Society
- Allow individuals to form communities based on shared values
Economy
- State should not interfere in the economy beyond protecting property rights
Traditional vs New Right differences
Human Nature
- Tradtional humans are flawed, nned guidance
- New Right, humans rational self reliant
State
- Tradtional strong but limited state to maintain order, tradition
- New Right small state
Society
- Trational organic society, hierarchy
- New Right collection of individuals
Economy
- Traditional cautios suport for free markets
- New Right strong support for free-market capitalism