Conservatism: Key terminology

Hierarchy

The Conservative belief that society is naturally organised in fixed tiers, where one’s position is not based on individual ability.

Authority

The idea that people in higher positions in society are best able to make decisions in the interests of the whole society; authority thus comes from above.

Change to conserve

Society should adapt to changing circumstances rather than reject change outright and risk rebellion and/or revolution.

Atomism

Society is made up of self-interested and self-sufficient individuals (also known as egoistical individualism).

Noblesse oblige

The duty of the wealthy and privileged to look after those less fortunate.

Anti-permissiveness

A rejection of permissiveness, which is the belief that people should make their own moral choices, suggesting there is no objective right and wrong.

Radical

Belief whose ideas favour drastic political, economic and social change.

Human imperfection

The traditional conservative belief that humans are flawed in a number of ways which makes them incapable of making good decisions for themselves.

Laissez-faire

A preference towards minimal government intervention in business and the state.

Empiricism

The idea that knowledge comes from real experience and not from abstract theories.