To What Extent Do Conservatives Agree On Human Nature Flashcards
(18 cards)
Introduction
Conservatism, as a political ideology, is often characterised by its sceptical view of human nature. However, despite this shared emphasis on imperfection, conservatives differ fundamentally in how they interpret this flaw and the role it should play in shaping society and government. While all strands broadly agree that human nature requires constraint, they diverge significantly in their views on individual rationality, the role of the community, and the extent of personal autonomy. These tensions reveal that conservatism is not a monolith but a family of related traditions, whose disagreements on human nature inform their wider ideological differences.
1: conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human imperfection requires paternalism or promotes self-reliance.
Topic sentence
While conservatives generally agree that human nature is morally flawed, they draw sharply different conclusions about how a society should respond to that imperfection.
1: conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human imperfection requires paternalism or promotes self-reliance.
Traditional conservatism
-traditional and One Nation conservatives believe that fallibility means individuals require guidance and support from authority figures who possess greater wisdom and experience.
-this view leads to a strong emphasis on paternalism, a top-down model of responsibility in which those at the top of society- aristocrats, the wealthy, or political leaders- have a duty of care towards those less fortunate.
-Edmund Burke, often regarded as the father of modern conservatism, argued that humans are governed not by reason, but by custom, prejudice and emotion. Because people are incapable of fully understanding the consequences of radical change, Burke believed that they must defer to tradition and authority, which represent the accumulated wisdom of generations.
-this scepticism of human rationality was echoed by Thomas Hobbes who famously described life in a state of nature as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”, advocating for a sovereign power to restrain chaos.
1: conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human imperfection requires paternalism or promotes self-reliance.
One Nation
-in One Nation tradition, this idea evolved into a more socially conscious form of paternalism.
-Disraeli feared the deepening divide between the rich and poor in industrialising Britain, describing the country as split into “two nations”. For him, the ruling elite had a moral obligation not only to lead but also to protect and uplift the working class.
-His belief in noblesse oblige- that privilege entails responsibility- justified state intervention such as the Second Reform Act (1867), which extended the vote to working men and legislation like the Artisan’s Dwellings Act and Factory Act, aimed at improving living conditions.
-Disraeli saw such reforms not as socialist concessions, but necessary to maintain national unity and prevent social unrest- a clear application of Burke’s belief in “change to conserve”
1: conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human imperfection requires paternalism or promotes self-reliance.
Neo-Liberal conservatives
-in contrast, neo-liberal conservatives such as Robert Nozick and Ayn Rand take a dramatically different view. While they too accept that humans are flawed, they reject the idea that this flaw justifies state paternalism. Instead they argue that human beings are rational enough to pursue their own self-interest, and that freedom lies in being left alone by the state.
-in particular, for Rand, altruism is a vice, not a virtue and she defends ethical egoism, where selfishness is not only natural but morally good, because it allows individuals to strive for excellence.
-Nozick adds to this with his libertarian theory of rights, insisting that state intervention to redistribute wealth- even for welfare- is morally illegitamate and constitutes “legalised theft”.
-both thinkers believe that a paternalistic state infantilises individuals, sapping their dignity, autonomy and motivation. This belief was reflected in the policies of Margaret thatcher, who famously declared, “there is no such thing as society”, only individuals and families- emphasising self-reliance and personal responsibility over collective support.
1: conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human imperfection requires paternalism or promotes self-reliance.
Conclusion
Thus, this divergence is not just a matter of policy but a philosophical worldview. For traditional and One Nation conservatives, imperfection in human nature necessitates paternalism; for neo-liberals, it means human nature must be left alone to help themselves. One side sees authority as a source of care and social stability, while the other sees it as a threat to freedom and dignity. Despite both acknowledging human fallibility, their responses are diametrically opposed, illustrating profound internal tension within the view of human nature.
2: Conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human beings are atomistic or inherently social
Topic sentence
Another major fault line within conservatism lies in the view of whether individuals are best understood as isolated, self-sufficient beings or as socially embedded creatures whose identity and obligations are shaped by community.
2: Conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human beings are atomistic or inherently social
Traditional conservatives
-traditional and One Nation Conservatives adopt an organic model of society, believing that human nature is fundamentally social. They argue that people are not autonomous units making free choices in a vacuum, but are born into a complex web of obligations, duties and inherited roles.
-Edmund Burke famously described society as a “partnership between those who are living and those who are dead, and those who are yet to be born”, stressing the importance of tradition, intergenerational ties and communal longing.
-this reflects the belief that humans flourish only within stable, hierarchal structures such as family, church and nation. Such institutions are not artificial constraints on freedom, but natural expressions of our social character.
2: Conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human beings are atomistic or inherently social
One Nation Conservatives
-one Nation conservatives sought to preserve social cohesion amid growing economic inequality by reinforcing the bonds of national unity.
-disraeli’s concept of “One Nation” was based on the conviction that all classes form part of a single social family, and that failing to address the plight of working class would lead to alienation, resentment and ultimately revolution.
-in this view, community is not just morally desirable but politically essential, since a fractured society cannot sustain itself.
-this belief in organicism thus leads One Nation thinkers to support limited state intervention to preserve the fabric of society, and to maintain order and continuity in the face of destabilising forces like class conflict or unrestrained capitalism.
2: Conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human beings are atomistic or inherently social
Neo-Liberals conservatives
-in contrast neo-liberal completely reject this communitarian vision. They adopt a view of individuals as atomistic- possessing natural rights and sovereign autonomy.
-in this view, society is not a living organism but a collection of independent individuals, each pursuing their own goals and entering contracts by chose.
-Ayn Rand celebrates this atomised vision in her novels and philosophy where the heroic individual thrives by rejecting collectivist moralities and asserting their own purpose.
-Nozick builds on this, arguing that the state exists only to enforce contracts and protect property rights, not to promote any shared moral or social vision. For Nozick, to impose a communitarian ethic on individuals would violate their freedom and treat them as mere means to collective ends.
-in policy terms, this leads to a stripping away of obligation to others- welfare, public housing and even progressive taxation are seen as unjust intrusions into personal liberty.
2: Conservatives fundamentally diverge on whether human beings are atomistic or inherently social
Conclusion
Therefore, while traditional and One Nation conservatives see society as an anchor for the individual, neo-liberals see it as a potential threat to liberty. These conflicting anthropologies underpin radically different of what it means to be human- and what they owe, if anything, to each other.
3: Conservatives broadly converge in believing that humans are morally fallible and in need or constraint
Topic sentence
Despite these stark disagreements, all conservatives converge on a foundational belief in fallibility and moral imperfection of human beings, which informs their preference for restraint over liberation, order over idealism and authority over equality.
Across the strands, there is deep scepticism towards utopian goals. This shared anti-utopianism leads conservatives to place their trust not in the perfectibility of man, but in institutions, traditions and established authority as checks on flawed human impulses.
3: Conservatives broadly converge in believing that humans are morally fallible and in need or constraint
Traditional conservatives
-for traditional conservatives, this view originates in the belief that society must be governed by a class of experienced leaders who understand that the passions of the masses must be restrained.
-edmund’ burke’s horror at the French Revolution was grounded in his belief that attempts to remake society according to abstract, rational principles were doomed to collapse into violence and tyranny.
-human nature, in Burke’s eyes, is not to be trusted with sudden freedom or unchecked reason; it must be guided by precedent, religion and custom
3: Conservatives broadly converge in believing that humans are morally fallible and in need or constraint
One Nation
-likewise One Nation conservatives accept that while the poor should be helped, they should also be disciplined by social norms and led by example, not liberated in a way that threatens the structure of society.
-even in their reforms- such as the social legislation under Disraeli- were framed not as empowerment, but as means to preserve harmony and authority.
3: Conservatives broadly converge in believing that humans are morally fallible and in need or constraint
Neo Conservatives
-Neo-conservatives, though modern in origin, return to this Burkean suspicion of permissiveness. They argue that the liberalisation of social norms, especially since 1960s, has led to a breakdown in moral order: rising crime, family disintegration, drug use and a general erosion of national identity.
-in their view, freedom without order leads to chaos and human beings must be directed by firm structures of discipline.
-they advocate for strong law and order policies, promotion of the traditional nuclear family and a revival of religious morality as a unifying cultural force.
-while they differ from paternalists in tone- focusing more on discipline than care- they nonetheless share the belief that without clear authority and constraint, human behaviour degenerates.
3: Conservatives broadly converge in believing that humans are morally fallible and in need or constraint
Neo Liberals
-Neo Liberals, despite their emphasis on liberty, maintain a degree of this scepticism.
-their distrust is directed less at moral capacity and more at the corruptibility of state power.
-Friedrich Hayek, for instance, believed that human beings are too limited in knowledge to centrally plan society effectively0 hence his opposition to socialism and top-down economic control.
-this rejection of keyensian economics outlines their belief that allowing flawed human beings too much control over others through government leads to coercion and inefficiency
-thus, even here, the idea that humans are not angels, and therefore must be bound by constitutional limits and market incentives persist
3: Conservatives broadly converge in believing that humans are morally fallible and in need or constraint
Conclusion
Ultimately, across all strands, conservatives broadly agree that human nature cannot be perfected and that political systems must be built not to realise ideal visions, but to contain risk, protect order and uphold authority. This convergence on human fallibility creates a common foundation, even if the strategies and emphases differ widely
Conclusion
While conservatives broadly agree that human nature is flawed and in need of restraint, they diverge sharply on what this means in practice. Traditional and One Nation conservatives argue for paternalism and social obligation, while neo-liberals champion self-reliance and minimal state interference. Neo-conservatives, though aligned with traditionalists on moral discipline, differ in their methods and focus. Ultimately, though the premise of human imperfection unites conservatism, its interpretation and application divide it, revealing a tradition marked more by tension than consensus.
