Year 12- Spring term conservatism - Mr Hill

Human Imperfection (Conservatism)

Drawing upon the Old Testament doctrine of original sin, this refers to the timeless flaws of humanity - flaws which make any quest for the 'perfect' society misguided and potentially disastrous

Who is the 'father of conservatism'

Edmund Burke key book: ''reflections on the french revolution'' (1790)

notable quote from edmund burke

'a state without the means of change... is without the means of its conservation'

what were the origins of conservatism?

reaction to the savagery of the french revolution

what were the conservative tenets (principles) that burke defined?

human imperfection, empiricism, organicism, tradition, aristocracy and localism

explanation for each:

human imperfection \= burke stressed mankind's fallibility and its tendency to fail more than succeed. + humans are psychologically, intellectually and morally flawed.

empiricism & tradition \= change should proceed on the basis of fact and experience rather than theory and idealism (change is necessary to conserve) + burke insisted that change should be organic LIKE A PLANT

localism\= 'little platoons' would 'acknowledge, nurture and prune... the crooked timber of humanity'

what did burke say in his book?

criticised the revolution as a ruling class is inevitable and desirable. Blamed the revolution on the aristocracy's failures to have a clear obligation to govern in the interest for all.

5 core principles of conservatism

paternalism
pragmatism
human imperfection
tradition
organic society/change

conservatives on society

localism - 'little platoons' provide security, status and inspiration

organicism - society can't be created/planned rather it emerges gradually/organically

empiricism - deal with issues in a practical, evidential, 'this is how it is' fashion, with no clear view of how society might evolve in the future

tradition- change is inevitable but needs to be slow, respectful, not contemptuous of the past

hierarchy - human imperfections lead to inequalities. inequalities are natural but there is a compromise known as noblesse oblige (paternalism)

property - inherited to support the idea of tradition and continuity, property owners have to exercise 'duty of care'

Conservatives on human nature

deny any possibility of a perfect, utopian society, compromising flawless and rational individuals; their view of human nature tends to be descriptive, not prescriptive, highlighting humanity 'as it is' rather than as it could or should be. human nature is fixed and constant

why is burke different from hobbes

burke \=- humans are fallible but not terrible
-humans are capable of kindness and altruism if their actions were rooted in tradition
-humans are naturally communal

conservative views on the state

state has more of a disciplinary function( has to provide order, security and authority) . prefer a state that emerges gradually, unpredictable and without fanfare: and organic and pragmatic response to humanity's needs (uncodified)

ruling class- comfy with an overtly hierarchal and elitist society, whose power will often be aristocratic and hereditary rather than democratic

nation - state \= who tf knows man

conservative views on economy

trad- 'reluctant supporters' defends inequality and hierarchy +any attack on capitalism is an attack on property and the status quo. BUT worships order, stability and continuity and capitalism promotes risk, innovation and iconoclasm. support protectionism capitalism (state intervened capitalism)

new right-optimistic supporters of capitalism, state can focus more on order and security, greater state spending on police, armed forces for protection

One-nation Conservatism (benjamin disraeli ''two nations'')

-''the palace is not safe when the cottage is not happy'' a response to working class (chartism) ppl threatening revolution and demanding democracy. emphasises national unity and traditional institutions. society is an organic whole (reject liberal atomism). people have duties to one another. hence the idea of noblesse oblige ('nobility comes with responsibility) solving the problems with the industrial revolution ('capitalism caused two nations')

michael oakshott

on being conservative (1962)- had a more optimistic view of human nature ''fallible but not terrible'' and ''imperfect but not immoral''

-dismissed 'normative' politics as he focused on the 'art of the possible'

-nautical metaphor of the government's function - a ship

BUT

-new right thinkers like nozick critiqued him saying his mentality was 'lazy' and allowed socialism

why was conservatism in crisis in the 70's

spiralling inflation, mounting unemployment, unsustainable welfare spending, increased crime rates, lacking morals

new right support

laissez-fair capitalism, stressed individual freedom, minimal government And strong emphasis on traditional society (social authoritarianism); intense patriotism, marriage, 'family values'

What is libertarianism?

Small government in all areas (social/cultural and economic)

ayn rand (1905-82)

''atlas shrugged 1957''
talented individuals , rather than ambitious governments, lay at the heart of a successful society
-objectivism (we should all be guided by self-interest and 'rational self-fulfillment'
-her work justified atomism (society did not exist in any particular form, just a loose collection of independent individuals)
-new right applied rand's principles and justified it with laissez-faire capitals and its renewal of negative liberty

-proud to call herself a libertarian but rejected any suggestion of anarchism. any free market needs small state

Robert Nozick

'Anarchy, State and Utopia (1971)'
'taxation is mostly theft'
growth of government \= gravest contemporary threat to individual freedom
-believed in a minarchist state (outsourcing public services to private companies)
-considered conservative as he wanted security and 'little platooons'

neo-conservatism (society) a branch of new right thinking concerned with fear of social fragmentation. tough on order and public morality

tougher approach on law & order
robust approach on national defence
less tolerant on immigration (challenge to traditional national identity)
anti - permissive social policies, promotion of 'traditional' family structures

neo-liberalism (economy)

drastic reduction in taxation
tighter control of government spending
end dependency culture (arose from expensive welfare state)
deregulation and privatisation of services

Empiricism

the only things you know are what has been observed in the past. Therefore support pragmatism and look to tradition