Conservatism

Authority

Authority

Those in higher positions are best positioned to make decisions on societies behalf and their legitimacy comes from being high up in the social hierarchy and those below are obliged to obey

Empiricism

The idea that knowledge and evidence come from real experience and not abstract theories

Noblesse Oblige

The duty of society’s elite, the wealthy and the privileged is to look after those less fortunate

Change to conserve

Society should adapt to shifting circumstances by making small changes rather than rejecting it outright. These will preserve the essence of our society if society doesn’t change it risks rebellion or revolution

Laissez- faire

A preference for minimal government intervention in the economy

Atomism

A society that exists as a loose collection of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals

Reactionary

Opposing change in a social economic or political system and preferring society to remain as it is. Indiviuals can also be reactionary in the fact they want things to stay the same and opposing change

Radical

Belief in ideas that favour drastic political economic and social change

Altruism

The belief that humans are not born to be self-seeking but can display fellow feeling, sympathy for others and an instinct to help and cooperate with others

Moral relativism

Questions whether there are any universal terms of individual values in terms of individual behavior eg same-sex marriage

Traditional conservatism

Reaction to the Enlightenment and argued for pragmatism, empiricism and tradition vital to maintaining society

One Nation Conservatism

Late 19th century state interference in economy and society

The new right

1970s neo liberalism and neo conservatism said one nation lost touch due to encouraging too much change

Human Imperfection

Cannot be avoided as humans are selfish motivated by impulse, intellectually imperfect and physiologically imperfect

Tradition

Accumulated wisdom of the past which underpins society and encourages continutiy and peace

Paternalism

Society is arranged in a natural hierachy which the ruling class has an obligation to those below them to help those less fortunate

Pragmatism

Dealing in a sensible way suiting to the conditions rather than fixed ideas or rules

Organic society

Society is not created but emerges and grows like an organism

Libertarianism

Emphasises freedom from interference and minimal state

Anti-permissiveness

A reaction influenced by Christian morality no rights and wrong with more liberal norms

Individual liberty

the rights and freedoms that individuals possess, which allow them to act and make choices independently, without undue interference from the government or other authorities.

Objectivism

a philosophy developed by Ayn Rand that emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and laissez-faire capitalism, advocating for reason as the primary means of acquiring knowledge and rejecting altruism and collectivism.