Conservatism Essay Plans Flashcards
(5 cards)
1
Q
Do traditional conservatives and the New Right both have agreements?
A
2
Q
Intro
A
- Tradtional conservatism refers to the paternal and one nation ideology of 1800s Britain
- New Right conservatives combine neo liberal and neo conservative ideas to
- they both hold similar principles and the typologies in conservatism are not as divided as other political ideologies
- for example, all conservatives agree that society is naturally hierarchical, works best under free market capitalism and champion traditional family and societal values and a quasi Darwinist view on society
- however, disagreements in these conflicting ideas are clear, as traditional conservatives recognise the communal and forgiving aspects of human nature, whereas new right conservatives have an atomistic view on human nature and are more rationalistic than traditional conservatives believe them to be
3
Q
Agreements:
A
- humans are imperfect (Oakehott and how it is a “philosophy of imperfection” Burke “marks and fobbles that mark each man”)
- are egotistical and should be concerned with their own freedoms, this new right perspective echoes Hobbes, one of the first traditional conservatives (Rand and ‘no obligation but to respect their freedom’ and Nozick ‘our restless quiet for self betterment’
- agree on a strong state, from Leviathan to New Right policies of Thather (increased police powers) - authority !
- society should follow its initial hierarchical and organic structure
- tradition and upholding long standing institutions (such as the House of Lords), as well as traditional views on the family, an Iconoclasm should never be championed
- property ownership gives people a stake in society (Thatcher “the UK shoudl be a property owning democracy”)
MJ- the principle values of society are upheld by 17th-19th century conservatives aswell as the New Right
4
Q
Disagreements:
A
- on Human nature, Burke and Oakeshott recognise the ‘little platoons’ that are essential in society, whereas Nozick and Rand have an atomistic and Egotistical view on human nature
- traditionalists are also paternalists and want the control of capitalism, so that the poorest in society can receive some relief and the rich have a responsibility to, whereas the new right see this as a personal endeavour due to the dangers of excessive intervention (Road to Serfdom, 1944 with how one intervention leads to another) (Milton Freedman “the freer the market, the freer the people”) (seek to revive Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations”
- traditionalists may see the new right as contradictory (thatcher and her rolling back the frontiers but reducing the power of trade unions, and immigration form the freest market but this contradicts traditional values
5
Q
Conclusion -
A
- agreements are apparent between both types of conservatism
- disagreements are most notable in that of the economy and human nature, as the New right are increasing int her individualistic and unregulated view of the economy, whereas traditional conservatives believe in communal aspects of society for “change to conserve”
