key principles and strands in principles Flashcards
(29 cards)
pragmatism general
- decisions should be made in a flexible way on the basis of what works, not purely based on ideology
- conservatism itself emerged as a response to french revolution
- viewing society in a ‘cautious’ way - basis of what works
traditional conservatives’ view on pragmatism
- support for deep rooted institutions and proven practices over ideology - PRAGMATIC
- approach to change is careful adjustments ‘society is complex and organic that has evolved over time’
- pragmatism = maintaining social order and stability
one nation conservatives’ view on pragmatism
- pragmatic solutions BALANCING traditional values and reforms for welfarism
- change is necessary to conserve the stable nature of society and prevent revolution (was at a time of growing socialism)
new right view on pragmatism
REJECTED pragmatism.
-neoconservatives: partial belief in pragmatism for moral and social issues
-neoliberals: full rejection of pragmatism and pro ideology - free markets no matter what
tradition and continuity general
- tradition is central to conservatism - the accumulated wisdom of past generations (GUIDANCE)
- respect for tradition - maintaining stability and order in society
traditional conservatives’ view on tradition and continuity
- core belief
- tradition provides wisdom, stability and social cohesion
BURKE: society is a partnership/moral contract through generations
one nation conservatives’ view on tradition and continuity
- support and respect tradition but more open to adapting institutions
- reform to conserve - for social harmony and unity
new right conservatives’ view on tradition and continuity
BOTH
- neoconservatives: strongly defend traditional values e.g. ‘nuclear family’ (traditional family as unit for conservative society), belief in religion - uphold social order and are opposed to liberal ideas like sexual and personal freedoms
- neoliberals: less bound to tradition - willing to challenge if it interferes with economic or individual liberties
paternalism, authority and hierarchy general
- general conservative belief that inequality is natural and inevitable
- hierarchy promotes order
- authority necessary to guide flawed humans and preserve societal stability
traditional conservatives’ view on paternalism, authority and hierarchy
- strong belief in hierarchy - reflects natural differences in ability
- authority comes from experience and social position
- BURKE - ‘we fear god, we look up in awe to kings’ - HIERARCHY IS NATURAL
one nation view on paternalism, authority and hierarchy
- hierarchy is there but ‘softened’ with paternalism
- elite should act benevolently to poor to maintain social cohesion and prevent revolution
new right view on paternalism, authority and hierarchy
all mainly against traditional hierarchy
- neoconservatives: strong state authority, in policing and national identity - essential for social cohesion
- neoliberals: do not support hierarchy, support a MERITOCRACY - positions in society shoudl be earned. not inherited
NO STATE INTERVENTION
capitalism and property general
- strongly wanted and supported in general as is rooted within pragmatism
- even when not pragmatism (neolib), is a feature of free markets
- do not want to disrput the organic system - part of it already
- gives individuals a stake in society and encourages respect for law and order (PART OF SOCIETAL FABRIC)
traditional conservatives view on capitalism and property
- strong support BECASUE makes people part of society
- land as a symbol for ‘duty, authority and continuity’
- those who own land seen as natural leaders = STABILITY
- middle ground with intervention, not paternalistic nor libertarian - just worried about unregulated capitalism undermining order and stability
- some gov int like protectionism
one nation view on capitalism and property
- support capitalism because it is pragmatic and respects tradition
- much more pro state intervention than traditional conservatives
- through paternalism and property rights
- sense of inclusion would lead people to have a ‘stake in the system’ - part of goal to reduce inequality and class conflict
new right view on capitalism and property
both quite pro capitalism but because of different reasons
- neoconservatives: support capitalism because it generates wealth and upholds traditional societal structures - but NOT UNFETTERED CAPITALISM bc it could lead to moral decay. strong state needed to control law and order
- neoliberals: libertarian - reject traditional suspicion of capitlaism and want full capitalism - makret forces are morally and economically superior to government planning
organic society general
- society is not a construct or machine that can be reengineeref - rather a LIVING ORGANISM that has evolved over time
- every part plays a role - institution, class, family - so rapid or radical change can be harmful
- OAKESHOTT: ‘nautical metaphor’ - politics and society is like sailing a ship on the open sea, not about building a utopia - can’t be redesigned, just about managing
traditional views on the organic society
- strong belief in organic society
- organic society leads ot hierarchies and attempting to flatten them leads to disorder
- localism - BURKE: little platoons - society as a whole is more than just individual parts
one nation views on organic society
- upholds organic metaphor but adds element of responsibility of higher classes - noblesse oblige
- justifies limited state welfare to preserve social unity
- natioal identity as a unit - shared purpose
new right vires on organic society
differs majorly
- neoconservatives: more sympathetic to organic model - national identity, shared values are essential for maintaining law, order and social cohesion
- neoliberals: reject the organic view - ATOMISTIC INDIVIDUALISM - society is a collection of rational, self interested individuals, libertarian view that society should not be prioritised over individuals
human imperfection general
- human nature is flawed and incapable of making good decisions - PESSIMISTIC VIEW
- HOBBES: ‘life in the state of nature is nasty, brutish and short’
- human nature and imperfection were. onstant so politicians should try and accommodate for this
3 aspects of human imperfection
- psychological imperfection (influecned by emotions not reason)
- moral imperfection (inclined to self interest so act immorally)
- intellectual imperfection (limited in capacity to rationalise and understand)
traditional conservtaives views on human imperfection
- influecned by christian teachinfs about original sin and the fallibility of man - man is so imperfect that strong, stable herarchical sociel order is needed
- humans need guidance of institutions and customs to maek devisions (intellectually imperfect)
- NOT ALL AS PESSIMISTIC AS HOBBES
- imperfections could be mitigated by the right tradition and guidance - chuch, family, little platoons
- OAKESHOTT: ‘noisy, foolish and flawrd’ amd ‘ benign and benevolent’ when driven by right customs
one nation views on human imperfectoin
- share the view of flawed human nature but believe in more compassionate state intervention
- humans are a mix of self interest, emotions and limited rationality so need paternalistic governance
- BUT recognise humans needing a level of suport in industrialised economies w inequalities
