conservatism

Levithan details

written in 1651 by philosopher Thomas Hobbes

what is going on in 1651

the English civil war - Charles II (who he likes) is gone - Cromwell is gone - Hobbes is worried about the implications of a democratic government

how is Hobbes linked to liberalism

via his principle of ‘government of consent’ and by the idea of the ‘state of nature’

Hobbes view on human nature

ruthlessly egotistical

likely to commit cruel and destructive acts

Hobbes view on life before the state

natural chaos - constant fear of war

believed humanity was left to form its own ideas of the acceptable and because every person’s version of this was likely to be different - war was inevitable

Why did Hobbes think everyone would agree to a contract at some point

because he thought human’s weren’t entirely irrational and would understand that their current state was contrary to their self interest and agree to the contract

what were the conditions of Hobbes ‘social contract’

the people render sovereignty, allowing the state to make laws to restrain everyone and allow the order and security absent in the state of nature

in return they would receive order and prosperity

what kind of government did Hobbes believe was needed

he thought concentrated power was necessary - as if power was dispersed too widely, disagreements would happen and the same conflicts seen in the state of nature, would reoccur

conservatism is a by-product of….

enlightenment