To what extent are conservatives united in their views about the state

Introduction

Paragraph Focus

• Paragraph 1 = Organic Society

• Paragraph 2 = Human Imperfection

• Paragraph 3 = Paternalism

Para 1 = Disagreement - One Nation

• one nation conservatives argue that society should change, but it must happen gradually

• thinkers such as Oakeshott argue that society must be allowed to grow and change like an organism

• it must change because if it ossifies it becomes outdates and combusts, therefore it must change to conserve

• however if sudden changes are made, people will loose a connection with tradition, leading to a cultural revolution, therefore change should be incremental

Para 1 = Disagreement - New Right

• new right conservatives disagree and argue that there should be rapid change to society

• they believe in atomism where an individual should not be constrained by what went before

• thinkers such as Rand would argue that if individuals were constrained by past obligations, they would be prevented from objectivism, they would clearly cease to best selves, and society would be constrained from moving forward

Para 2 = Agreement - Traditional

• traditional conservatives think that state intervention is essential because humans are imperfect

• thinkers such as Hobbes believe that human are morally imperfect and are only interested in themselves

• therefore, a Leviathan needs to establish a society to enforce order and protect society from the consequences of human nature

• a society would provide the foundations for safety and tiny platoons

Para 2 = Agreement - One Nation

• one nation conservatives agree and argue that state intervention is essential as humans are imperfect

• thinkers such as Oakeshott argue that humans are intellectually imperfect so humans cannot be trusted to implement abstract ideas 0r change to conserve

• instead, they believe that state should step in to correct the address social issues cause by human imperfection and ensure social stability and cohesion

Para 3 = Disagreement - Traditional

• traditional conservatives argue that the state should be paternalistic

• thinkers such as Hobbes believe that state should retain all power in order to maintain social stability and prevent conflict between different social groups

• they argue that without a guiding authority, society would become ‘nasty, brutish and short’

• therefore, the state must fulfil its noblesse oblige, and be a paternalistic figure

Para 3 = Disagreement - New Right

• new right conservatives disagree and argue that paternalism is bad

• thinkers such as Rand have a positive view of human nature and believe that humans are rational

• this means that individuals are the best arbiters and the state should allow people to do what they want with their lives

• therefore, paternalism would only undermine individual responsibility and self-reliance by encouraging dependency on the state