core ideas of conservatism

Core values that underpin Conservatism

Paternalism and hierarchy

• Society has evolved organically to create a hierarchy where the minority cares for those of a lower rank

• Noblisse oblige

  • Stronger parts of society have the job of caring for the minority

Soft paternalism

When those who are the recipients give their consent

Hard paternalism

When paternalism is imposed, regardless of consent or opposition in a more authoritarian manner

Empiricism

• The conservative preference for evidence

• Dealing with societal issues in a practical, evidential

• No clear view of how society might evolve in the years and decades ahead

  • Emphasis on ‘what is’ rather than ‘what should be’

Who takes the normative view on society

Normative- denotes how arrangements theoretically ‘should’ be in the future

View taken by PROGRESSIVE IDEOLOGIES LIKE SOCIALISM AND LIBERALISM

What was Oakeshott’s observation on the conservative society?

One that merely aims to ‘stay afloat’ in uncertain waters rather than sail steadily towards some specific destination

Judeo-Christian morality

• Strong attachment to religion, particularly Old Testament Christianity

  • Belief in Original sin

• strong emphasis on marriage, self-contained families and individuals being held accountable for their own actions

What Socialist contention do conservatives refute?

That ‘dysfunctional’ individuals are merely the products of ‘dysfunctional’ societies

What do conservatives think will curb the human imperfections?

• Religious principles

• E.g. spiritual rewards of altruism and compassion

  • Will help bind individuals together and curb the imperfections that both conservatism and Christianity see as inherent to human nature

View on Property being passed through generations (Burke)

• Provides a degree of stability in a shaky, imperfect world

• Tangible expression of Burke’s belief that the ideal society is a ‘partnership between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are yet to be born’

What was the ongoing practical maintenance of property a metaphor for?

For conservatism’s belief in the ongoing maintenance of society- illustration that we must change to conserve

How is the conservative idea of paternalistic society relate to property?

• Those with property have a ‘stake’ in existing society should have some concern for those who do not have property

• Property ownership thus provides a platform and an incentive for property owners to exercise ‘duty of care’ towards others

Tradition

• Effectiveness of an empirical, conservative society rests heavily upon the store it sets by tradition

• Customs and habits are thus used to provide security in an uncertain world

Oakeshott observation

• Just as plant’s new leaves are connected to, dependent on and explained by the plants roots and branches, so a society present direction sets from its past development

What were conservatives view on reform?

• Conservatives argue that change and reform (though inevitable )

  • Must be slow not drastic

  • Respectful not contemptuous

Organicism

• Society is not something that can be contrived or created but rather something that emerges gradually

  • Organically but mysteriously

• human life is subject to com

Localism

• society as a collection of localised communities - little platoons burke - these communities provide their members w security and status and act as a restraint on selfish individualism - in return for being part of a community, humans must accept the responsibility which comes with it - e.g being a considerate neighbour . society also prevents the development of anomie(instability)
  new right figure rand dont agree w this

organicism

society emerges gradually, organically, and thus somewhat mysteriously. Thus do not view society like a machine but instead like a plant, growing in a way that can never be wholly predicted

hierarchy

• Hierarchy - imperfections of humanity lead to inequalities in human nature - burke says the 'wiser, stronger and more opulent' establish a hierarchy of power and privilege - thus society naturally has a top down structure.

• However with power comes responsibility - paternalism or noblesse oblige - meaning that ruling classes have a 'fatherly' obligation to the 'weaker elements of society' - meaning the poorer.

• can be soft or hard paternalism