key values Flashcards
outline the key values of conservatism
-pragmatism - decisions are made on the basis of what works
-tradition- accumulated wisdom of past societies
-human imperfection-humans are naturally flawed which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves
-organic society/state- society/state is more important than any individual parts, underpins beliefs about hierarchy
-paternalism- benign power exerted by the state that governs in the best interests of the people
-libertarianism- upholds liberty, seeks to maximise autonomy and free wil- mainly in the economy
outline pragmatism and a quotes
what tensions arise with pragmatism
modern examples of pragmatism
- closely associated with one natio conservatives e.g Disreali introduced some social reforms in order to conserve traditions of the past
- willingness to adapt to the context of the time in order to avoid resistance and preserve order and traditon
-in contrast to the new right which takes a more ideological and dogmatic outlook and requires firm leadership to steer the country into neo-liberalism
e.g Thatcher broke away from tradition of pragmatism and gave rise to thatcherism
-this involves a flexible approach to society making decisions on the basis of what works
-this entails a complete rejection of ideology, instead acceptance that the best route to solve a problem is not necessarily what ones ideological belief says
-it also represents a search for practical solutions rather than the infelxibility imposed by ideologies (dogmatic)
-Burke supported the AWI yet rejected the french revolution as this used revolutionary change that disrupted law and order- linked to the belief that society is constantly evolving
modern example- David Cameron- changed the policies of the conservatives between 2010-2015, this can be argued to be pragmatic as the party changed its ideas to the most socially and electorally pragmatic compromising with the lib dems
New right- Thatcher was dogmatically comitted to individual freedom and economic libertarianism- introducing poll tax to her own detriment- highlights inability and rejection of pragmatism
‘A state without the means of some change… is without the means of its conservation’
Oakshott- politics should be ‘a conversation, not an argument’- decisions should therefore be based on consensus
winston churhcill- ‘the further you look back at the past the clearer you see the future’
Rand crtical of pragamtism- ‘the middle way is evil’
Oakshott-argues politics is ‘the art of accomodating moralities’ to eachother
outline tradition and quotes
what tensions arise within tradition
modern examples of tradition
-belief that events of the past hold knowledge for people in the present
-tradition, hierarchy and paternalism are closely linked - the people who have ruled previously (who tend to hold a position of wealth) know what is best for the people they are ruling
-Burke- previous systems have worked, stick to tradition and rejects radical change and overthrow of traditional systems
-connected to belief that humans are imperfect and tradition helps humans to feel safe and understand where they fit in
-suspicious of change as it goes against tradition
-leads to some cons being suspicious of multiculturalism and immigration
-tradition can be found in institutions such as the monarchy and the house of lords
-new right reject tradition
‘to be a conservative means to prefer the tried to the untried’
-‘accumulated wisdom of past societies and a connection across the generations’
outline human imperfection and quotes
what tensions arise within human imperfection
-human nature is imperfect, self interested and unchangeable- pessimistic view of human nature
-rejection of enlightened principles in the belief that humans are inherantly flawed and this should be recognised to prevent uncessary destruction
-argue that human nature can not be perfected
-rejection of rationality
-because humans are imperfect they are unable to make good decisions for themselves so need a strong sov to rule
- humans need to draw on tradition, history and practical experience to understand their place in the world
-Humans are flawed psychologically, morally and intellectually
We want to know our place in society more than paralyzing freedom
Because of this we need a strong system of law and order to restrain our impulse
Humans can be united by feelings so we need to hold onto tradition
Morally imperfect (selfish)- flawed characters so unable to act rationally of perfectly- view crime as a result of flawed moral characteristics rather than inequalities of the world
-belief in behaviour regulation through the law
Intellectually imperfect (irrational)- the world around us is more complicated than we are able to understand , as such we arw unable to try and overhaul what already exists
Psychologically imperfect (security driven, socially dependent)- we behave in ways that are familiar and comforting rather than things that might be better for us- attracted to safety, comfort and order rather than radical ideas of change
Rand-‘ he has a right to live as a rational being:nature forbids him from being irrational’
‘war of all against all’
‘life in a state of human nature is solitary,nasty, brutish and short’
outline paternalism and quotes
what tensions arise within paternalism
-natural aristocracy - noblesse de oblige
paternalism is the belief that some members of society should lead others and it is these people who have obligations to those from below to lok after their best interests
-members of the elite seek to govern in the best interests of the people
-links to hierarchy, organic society, noblesse oblige, tradition and pragmatism
-human imperfection justifies paternalism- humans may not always make the best choices for themselves therefore it is acceptable to act on behalf of other people
tend to support trustee model of rep
-mostly linked with one nation con- Disreali
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-burke and disreali introduced the concept of neo feudalism which argued for class structures - upper classes should rule because they have time and money to spare and their ancestors have been in power so have the historic knowledge on how to rule ‘dispassionately’
-new right reject paternalism- e.g thatcher rejected establishment ideas of looking after the working classes by cutting social security such as state pensions
-‘if the cottagers are happy the castle is safe’- disreali
outline paternalism and quotes
what are tensions within paternalism
-the idea of a natural aristocracy
-an approach to running the country in which members of the elite seek to govern the best interests of the people- closely associated with noblesse oblige, hierarchy and organic society
-natural inequalities in society and some members of society should lead others
-idea of human imperfection, humans may not be always able to make the best choices for themselves therefore it is acceptable to act on behalf of other people - trustee model of rep
Burke and Disreali both advocated for neo-feudalism- which argued for class structure
-Disreali- prominent one nation conservative
‘if the cottagers are happy the castle is safe’
outline organic society and quotes
what tensions arise
-society develops as an organism rather than a man made device
-view society as a organism that emerges and evolves gradually over time to meet the needs of its members
-e.g need to develop mechanism that protect us from harm such as the armed forces
-sees society as a human body-linked to one nation con
-every party of the body has a specific and essential part to play and the body cannot function without it
-the whole is more than the sum of its parts and more important than any individual within it
-neo feudalism, nobless oblige- everyone has their own part to play in society
-rejected by the new right
-Thatcher- ‘there is no such things as society, only individuals and their families’
good order is the foundation of all things- burke
Love the little platoon we belong to in society’ - burke
‘Fixed compact… holds all physical and moral natures in their appointed place’
Humans have duty to others
outline libertarianism and quotes
what tensions arise
-involves the upholding of liberty, seeking to maximise autonomy and free choice, mainly in the economy
-state functions
-support a free market economy, believing indviuduals should be resposible for their own economic choices an that the government should not intervene
‘ the laws of commerce, which are the laws of nature’ - support for capitalism and Adam Smith
