Conservatism key thinkers

Question 1

Thomas Hobbes Birth and death

Answer 1

1588

1679

Question 2

Thomas Hobbes view of Human Nature

Answer 2

Cynical: individuals are selfish, driven by a restless and ruthless desire for supremacy and security.

Question 3

Thomas Hobbes view on the state

Answer 3

The State arises ‘contractually’ from individuals who seek order and security. to serve its purpose, the state must be autocratic and awesome

Question 4

Thomas Hobbes view on society

Answer 4

There can be no ‘society’ until the creation of a state brings order and authority to human affairs. Life until then in ‘nasty, brutish and short’

Question 5

Thomas Hobbes view on the economy

Answer 5

Constructive and enduring economic activity is impossible without a state guaranteeing order and security

Question 6

Edmund Burke Birth and death

Answer 6

1729

1797

Question 7

Edmund Burke view of Human Nature

Answer 7

Sceptical: the ‘crooked timber of humanity’ is marked by a gap between aspiration and achievement. we may conceive of perfection but we are unable to achieve it.

Question 8

Edmund Burke view on the state

Answer 8

The state arises organically and should be aristocratic, driven by a hereditary elite, reared to rule in the interests of all.

Question 9

Edmund Burke view on society

Answer 9

society is organic and multi-faceted, comprising a host of small communities and organisations (‘little platoons’)

Question 10

Edmund Burke view on the economy

Answer 10

Trade should involve ‘organic’ free markets and laissez-faire capitalism

Question 11

Michael Oakeshott birth and death

Answer 11

1901

1990

Question 12

Michael Oakeshott view on human nature

Answer 12

modest: humanity is at its best when free from grand designs and when focused on the routines of everyday life

Question 13

Michael Oakeshott view on the state

Answer 13

the state should be guided by tradition and practical concerns. pragmatism, not dogmatism, should be its watchword

Question 14

Michael Oakeshott view on society

Answer 14

Localised communities are essential to humanity’s survival, especially when guided by short-term requirements rather than abstract ideas

Question 15

Michael Oakeshott view on the Economy

Answer 15

Free markets are volatile and unpredictable, and may require pragmatic moderation by the state

Question 16

Ayn Rand birth and death

Answer 16

1905

1982

Question 17

Ayn Rand view on human nature

Answer 17

‘Objectivist’: we are - and ought to be - guided by rational self-interests and the pursuit of self fulfilment

Question 18

Ayn Rand view on the state

Answer 18

the state should confine itself to law, order and national security. any attempt to promote ‘positive liberty’ via further state intervention should be resisted

Question 19

Ayn Rand view on tsociety

Answer 19

in so far as it exists at all, society is atomistic: the mere sum total of its individuals. any attempt to restrict individuals in the name of society should be challenged

Question 20

Ayn Rand view on the economy

Answer 20

free-market capitalism is an expression of ‘objectivist’ individualism and should not be hindered by the state

Question 21

Robert Nozick birth and death

Answer 21

1938

2002

Question 22

Robert Nozick view on Human nature

Answer 22

Egotistical: individuals are driven by a quest for ‘self-ownership’, allowing them to realise their full potientail.

Question 23

Robert Nozick view on the state

Answer 23

the minarchist state should merely outsource, renew and reallocate contracts to private companies providing public services

Question 24

Robert Nozick view on society

Answer 24

society should be geared to individual self fulfilment. this may lead to a plethora of small, variable communities reflecting their members’ diverse tastes and philosophies

Question 25

Robert Nozick view on the economy

Answer 25

The minarchists state should detach itself from a privatised and deregulated economy, merely arbitrating disputes between private economic organisations

Question 26

Thomas Hobbes book

Answer 26

Leviathan 1651

Question 27

Edmund Burke Book

Answer 27

Reflections on the revolutions in France 1790

Question 28

Michael Oakeshott book

Answer 28

On being conservative 1962

Question 29

Ayn Rand book

Answer 29

Atlas Shrugged 1957

Question 30

Robert Nozick book

Answer 30

The road to serfdom 1944

Question 31

main 2 types of conservatism

Answer 31

Traditional | New right

Question 32

Traditional VS New Right - Human nature

Answer 32

Traditional - sceptical view of human nature, warning against the grand, utopian schemes of progressive politicians. New Right - more optimistic view, possibilities of individuals with initiative and liberty, individuals can achieve in the economic sphere, human potential lies in fostering a pro-capitalist environment

Question 33

Traditional VS New Right - society

Answer 33

Traditional - as a collection of small communities 'little platoons' by a hierarchical structurer in which 'paternalistic' elites exercise their inherited power New right - are more sceptical about paternalistic communities, preferring a society defined by those who have achieved rather than inherited power, status and property (meritocratic over aristocratic)

Question 34

Traditional VS New Right - The state

Answer 34

Traditional - defend a state where political power is wielded by those who are 'born to rule' believing there is a 'ruling class' with the principles of duty and sacrificed instilled with a sense of responsibility towards the governed New right - wish to 'roll back the frontiers of the state' so as to advances individual freedom and reserve the dependency culture, hostile to the principle of aristocratic rule, fear that the ruling classes have too much stake in the status quo and are therefore reluctant to admit the need for radical change by new right governments

Question 35

Traditional VS New Right - Economy

Answer 35

Traditional - defend economy based on private ownership are sceptical about free - market capitalism, it threatens 'one nation' and free markets fuel support for socialism New right - advocate free market economies where state spending, state funding ids deregulated and privatised, and where levels of taxation and state spending are significantly reduced