conservatism

3 views of the economy

1. Property and private enterprise

   Defence of private property as according to burke its seen to hold traditional and material significance

   Valuable asset in times of hardship and preservation of tradition

   Private enterprise needed as inequality is inevitable and it is a system that produces growth. Inequality regulated by paternalistic responsibility

2. Acknowledge instability of capitalism

   “Behind the forces of the free market lie the the forces of human imperfection”

   H. Macmillan (Former conservative PM) desired for a confluence of free market capitalism and state intervention to offset economic inequalities arising from the industrial revolution.

3. Free market

   New right thinkers like rand more accepting of a laisses faire economy and promoted privatisation to incentive growth. Backed by Nozick who claimed a largely gracious economic a system fosters a culture of dependency and taxation is theft.

   Exercised by thatcher’s government

3 views on human nature

1. Cynical

   Hobbes ( influenced by the civil war) claimed that humans are innately egotistical and selfish

   Exemplified his view via Hobbesian state of nature. Absence of state of law will cause humans to lead a “Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short life”

2. Fixed and Flawed

   HN is static and we lack the intellectual faculties to induce pragmatic change.

   Even under the reconstruction society we cannot positively reshape our lives

   Burke used the incendiary nature of the French revolution to to fortify his views.

3. Forgiving

   Oakeshott offered a sympathetic view citing humans are “imperfect not immoral” and are able to exude kindness.

   Reconciled with their imperfections and hence appreciate simpler things like community

   This is seen in the comfort humans find in familiarity and tradition

3 views on society

1. Little platoons

   Burke claimed society was an assortment of apolitical communities that provide support and a relinquishment of societal burdens.

   They also moderate competitive egotism(threatens stability. and the power of the sate.

   “A strong society protects us from an over mighty government” Oakeshott

2. Property

   Vital part of conservative society

   Holds material and traditional significance

   It enforces importance of authority, those who own property (an extension of ones personality) respect the property of others.

   “Society is a partnership between the living, dead and yet to be born” property encapsulates this as it passes accumulated wisdom as an inheritable asset.

3. Rejection of natrual society

   Society cannot exist without law and authority - Hobbes.

   May result in anomie

   It will be frail and prone to conflict of interests.

3 views of the state

1. Primacy of authority

   States main aim is to provide security

   View has remained constant from TC to new right

   Formal authority that provides national security cultivates a safe environment for communities to thrive

   Hobbes extols this in his work leviathan that preaches authorial sovereignty.

2. Limited hierarchy

   Conservatives comfortable with the idea of a elitist society and inequality(everyone serves a purpose)

   Burke adorned hereditary /aristocratic rule as it provided a continuity of tradition and those born to rule are raised with a duty of responsibility

   But they must be binded to paternalistic responsibility

3. Led by empiricism

   Not guided by dogma or abstract philosophy- links to imperfect view of human nature

   Helps fortify tradition and the ability to change to conserve

   Oakeshott nautical metaphor “keeping the ship afloat ..not fixating on a port that might not exist”