Conservatism

Conservative key thinkers

• Thomas Hobbes

• Edmund Burke

• Michael Oakeshott

• Ayn Rand

• Robert Nozick

Hobbes’ view on human nature

• Humans, without authority, will descend into a chaotic and violent “state of nature”

• Life would be “nasty, brutish and short”

• People aren’t inherently bad but self-interest means as a collective they must be controlled to avoid catastrophe

Hobbes’ solution to the state of nature

• The many should hand over their rights to the sovereign, who is in control

• Living with the possibility of fear is better than the guarantee of fear

• Authoritarianism = price of peace

Does Hobbes advocate totalitarianism?

No → sovereign can decide anything but doesn’t decide everything, people free to do what is most profitable to them except from where banned by the sovereign

In what book did Hobbes advocate his views?

Leviathan (1651)

Burke’s key ideas

• Tradition and empiricism

• Gradual change

  • Organic society

  • Pragmatism

What did Burke argue about tradition?

• Tradition and empiricism should be respected as it promotes stability

• Long-existing institutions have proven to have worked, so needn’t be changed

• Provides a sense of belonging and identity

What is empiricism?

All concepts originate from experience

What is an organic society?

Society is a living organism, with all parts working together in harmony to ensure the “body” stays healthy → humans are dependent on each other but have different responsibilities and importance

What sort of society did Burke advocate?

Organic society → society is like a plant, change is necessary so should be pruned gently to ensure stability, revolution cuts the roots, killing the plant

What did Oakeshott argue?

• Human imperfection → society is complex and humans lack the mental capacity to build a perfect society, should develop society gradually through tried and tested methods, not through revolution

• Pragmatism → avoids dictators and revolutions, develops a stable society (e.g. UK democracy)

Oakeshott strand

One Nation

Hobbes strand

Traditional

Burke strand

Traditional

What did Ayn Rand argue?

• Objectivism

• Neo-liberal, laissez-faire economics

• Humans are rational

What is Rand’s objectivism?

• Advocates the pursuit of rational self-interest to ensure individuals fulfil their potential and achieve happiness

• Self-interest is morally right → though doesn’t mean the exploit of others

• Altruism is evil as not in your self-interest

Rand strand

New Right

What were Robert Nozick’s key ideas?

• Libertarianism

• Self-ownership

How did Nozick argue for neo-liberalism?

• Humans aren’t resources and should not be treated by the state as things/economic resources

• Individuals should be “treated as an end and never as a means only”

• Tax = theft

Nozick’s view on human nature

• Humans are rational and self aware

• Have free will and should be able to use their talents to gain their own rewards

Nozick’s view on the state

• Night watchman state only

• Anything further encroaches on self-ownership

Nozick strand

New Right