human nature

What do conservatives believe on human nature?

Humans are flawed imperfect beings

Humans are flawed imperfect beings- Hobbes

Pops has a pessimistic view of life in the state of nature, which is "nasty, brutish, and short" due to constant conflict between people, selfish desires, making any form of society impossible

Humans are flawed imperfect beings- Burke

Making decisions based on nationalistic ideas is ill-advised instead decision should be made cautiously based not to human reasoning, but empirical evidence

Humans are flawed imperfect beings- oakeshott

Oakeshott saw humans as "fragile infallible "those who promote rationalism, underestimate the complexity of reality in attempting to improve things, so may make matters worse where the "Q" might be "worse than disease"

Humans have a natural desire for stability and order

Hobbs believed humans are mainly motivated by self-preservation, but are not completely irrational. The 'first and fundamental law of nature" is to "seek peace, and follow it" to do so people make a social contract by giving up their freedom for the protection by an all powerful ruler.

Conservatives DISAGREE on the extent to human imperfection- Burke

Humans are not ruthlessly, individualistic and incapable of sociability without a powerful state. Instead, humans are naturally communal imperfection compels them to form supportive community is called little platoons.

Conservatives DISAGREE on the extent to human imperfection- oakeshott

Although they're in perfect Oakeshott, saw humans is capable of benevolence

-what nation conservatives generally have a more positive view on human nature seeing individuals as inherently social and emphasising the importance of community and social cohesion

Conservatives DISAGREE on the extent to human imperfection- neoliberals

New liberals, reject human affection and suggest that people can order lives on a moral and logical basis.

This leads to "as a mystery individualism" where autonomous individuals use reason to self fulfilment.

Rand: personal happiness is best achieved by giving humans maximum negative freedom, which allows it to comprehend reality and achieve self realisation.

Nozik argued for "self ownership', whereby individuals retain control over their bodies, talents, abilities, and labour with minimal obligations imposed by the state

Liberal human nature agreement- humans are naturally rational -Locke

Locke believed rational people would recognise that "no one ought to have another" and that people should respect others, natural rights.

Responsibility to follow and enforce natural laws is "put into every man's hands".

Liberal human nature agreement- humans are naturally rational -mill

Mill argued that humans have a natural reason, and also fundamentally self interested

Liberal human nature agreement- humans are naturally rational -Rawls

People are "rational and mutually self interested": individuals prioritise themselves, want as much freedom as possible, and though selfish, are sympathetic to those less fortunate

Humans are born to be equal and have natural rights-Locke

Locke believed we are "the workmanship of one of the potent an infinite to Wise, make up" and have equal natural rights. To violate the rights of others would be to violate the property of God.

Humans are born to be equal and have natural rights- Wollstonecraft

Wollstonecraft emphasised that men and women were equally rational: "the mind has no gender" apparent "distinction of sex" is the result of a lack of education, rather than an equal nature

Humans are born to be equal and have natural rights -Rawls

Rawls argued rational self interest of people behind "veil of ignorance "which choose impartial, fair, egalitarian principles in case we ourselves become a victim of unjust rules

Liberal DISAGREEMENT on human nature

Are humans capable of pursuing their own interest without external inferences?

Are humans capable of pursuing their own interest without external inferences- classical

Classical liberals argue that people can pursue their own interests without interference. Locke saw the state of nature as "a state of perfect freedom to order their actions"

Are humans capable of pursuing their own interest without external inferences- mill

Mill believes human nature is rational, but not fixed capable of reaching higher levels.

Not all automatically capable of "self-government" and therefore need education to have others make decisions for them.

He applied this to children and other "backward people"

Are humans capable of pursuing their own interest without external inferences- Rawls

Though Rawls saw all equal people as equally valuable, he argued that social factors such as race, gender and class were of huge importance in determining whether an individual thrived or underachieved so intervention is needed to create liberty

Are humans capable of pursuing their own interest without external inferences- Mary

Liberal feminists emphasise that equal nature of men and women. For example, Wollstonecraft believed that "" this is not necessarily an area of disagreement, but something that some emphasise more than others.

What do socialists agree on regarding human nature?

Optimistic view on human nature- equal, social, rational and predisposed to cooperate

Optimistic view on human nature- Marx/Engels

Marx and Engels believed that cooperation and solidarity are fundamental aspects of human nature.

In a Communist society "through development of each is the condition for the free development of all"

Optimistic view on human nature- luxumburg

Rosa Luxemburg believed that people are not "naturally egoistic and self-centred", but desire, freedom, solidarity, and cooperation

Optimistic view on human nature- Webb

Webb argued that "human beings have a natural tendency to cooperate and help each other"

Optimistic view on human nature- crosland

Crosland argued that humans are "naturally equal" and they have a right to share all societies resources

What else to socialists agree on?

Recognition of the potential for individuals to be shaped by social structures

Recognition of the potential for individuals to be shaped by social structures - m+e

People are "deformed by capitalism".

Common humanity and natural altruism have been replaced by false consciousness of bourgeois values

Recognition of the potential for individuals to be shaped by social structures- luxumburg

She argued that people are deeply affected by oppressive social structures, according to her selfishness is acquired "under the pressure of life and social conditions"

Recognition of the potential for individuals to be shaped by social structures- Webb

Web agreed that capitalism has damaged the human psyche. Cooperation is "often undermined by social and economic forces"

Recognition of the potential for individuals to be shaped by social structures- crosland

Crossland focused on class, inequalities, corrosive effects, causing envy, inferiority and resentment

One thing socialists disagree on

Socialists disagree over how to solve the damage done to human nature by capitalism

disagree over how to solve the damage done to human nature by capitalism- m+e

Marcin angles, but the only option was revolution.

Imagine coming to society was transform, humans allowed people to enjoy the common humanity

disagree over how to solve the damage done to human nature by capitalism- luxumburg

Luxembourg agreed on the need for evolution documents as in Perfect.

She argued potential for corruption, and after evolution, without the democratic state

disagree over how to solve the damage done to human nature by capitalism- Webb

Webb thought, the human nature could be guided back to natural cooperative Essence by gradual reform of the state as well as collectivist policies

disagree over how to solve the damage done to human nature by capitalism- crosland

Crossland wanted to stop on equal opportunity and create fairness, for example, through comprehensive education

disagree over how to solve the damage done to human nature by capitalism- Giddens

Didn't argued for "communitarianism" coupling freemarket, with a focus on community, increasing well-being, and sense of responsibility to others.

She thought it was possible for humans to be both individualistic and collectivistic

What else do socialists disagree on?

How far the government should go to ensure foundational equality translates to equality of outcome

How far the government should go to ensure foundational equality translates to equality of outcome- Marxists

Marxists, believe in absolute equality, what about by the abolition of private property and collectivisation of productive wealth

How far the government should go to ensure foundational equality translates to equality of outcome- social democrats

Social Democrats believe in relative social equality, achieved by the redistribution of wealth, through progressive taxation and the creation of opportunities for those less well off, for example through education