Conservatism core themes

What are the six core themes of conservatism

Pragmatism

Tradition

Human imperfection

Organic society or state

Paternalism

Libertarianism

What is pragmatism?

Responding to an event in a way based on past experience.

Michael Okeshott quote on Pragmatism

'to prefer the familiar to the unknown’

What is pragmatism most commonly linked to?

One nation conservatism

What did Edmund Burke quote about pragmatism?

‘a state without the means to change is without the means of its conservation’

Example of One nation pragmatism

In the 1950’s/60’s the conservatives supported government proposals for state intervention in the economy to raise money for welfare programmes

What is the New Rights approach to pragmatism?

Believes in Principle instead of pragmatism - free market can confidently deliver all goods and services.

Key thinker relating to New Right pragmatism

Robert Nozick - Individual sovereignty

What does the conservative’s obsession of tradition stem from?

Everything stemmed from God and therefore should be kept that way

Burke quote on tradition

society was shaped by the ‘laws of our Creator’

Burke quote on society and tradition within it

‘those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are yet to be born’

What do modern conservatives take from thinkers to promote tradition?

Edmund Burke - wisdom of our ancestors. Their society worked so we should keep their traditions. For example, Monarchy is a source of national unity and pride.

In what way do conservatives promote change?

Through gradual, peaceful ways which strengthen existing institutions, customs and practices

What historic events to conservatives condemn?

1917 Bolshevik revolution because it cut off traditional ties which maintains society.

In what three ways are humans imperfect according to conservatives?

Psychologically, morally and intellectually

How are humans flawed psychologically?

Humans are scared of change so need control to make them feel secure.

What did a key thinker say about humans psychological imperfection?

Thomas Hobbes - Leviathan: establishes that freedom should be sacrificed for security through a government

What do conservatives think about humans moral imperfection?

Crime is caused by human imperfection not society due the concept of ‘original sin’

Example of a conservative response to crime following humans moral imperfection

Margaret Thatcher’s ‘New Right’ strict law enforcement

What do conservatives believe about human’s intellectual imperfections?

Humans are not intelligent or rational. Therefore pragmatism is key.

What did a certain Key thinker say about human’s intellectual imperfection?

Michael Oakeshott - the world was ‘boundless and bottomless’ so beyond human understanding

New right approach to human imperfections

More positive view of human nature - for example, the belief in the free market must allow people a great deal of freedom in the economic sphere. However, this is allied with a strong emphasis on moral authority and law and order.

What do conservatives believe about society?

Humans need society to feel stable. In turn they accept their social duties of parenthood etc. Without this acceptance, humans would be egotistical.

What two things underpin conservative belief about society?

Hierarchy and authority

What do conservatives believe about inequalities within society?

Society rests on inequalities as people were born to perform different roles. For example, some born to lead and some born to follow

Which key thinker believed in paternalism?

Edmund Burke

What does neo-liberalism think about paternalism?

Rejects it. Aims to reduce the size of the state so the economy can prosper. Paternalism and state intervention undermines human initiative and enterprise.

Which key thinker followed a neo-liberalism view on welfare?

Ayn Rand - Objectivism where humans should think of themselves and not others

What branch of conservatism is neo-liberalism associated with

The New Right

Harold Macmillan quote about state intervention

‘Private enterprise without selfishness’

Edmund Burke Key Work

Reflections on the revolutions in France

Thomas Hobbes key work

Leviathan

Michael Oakeshote key work

On being Conservative

Ayn Rand key work

Atlas Shrugged

Robert Nozick key work

State, anarchy and utopia

Key thinker associated with neoliberalism and new right

Robert Nozick

Minarchism

Smallest state possible

Robert Nozick theory

Minarchism