Conservatism 4 Exam

Hobbes’s belief on human nature?

• ‘Ruthless self-interest’

Hobbes’s belief on the state?

• Empiricism

• Powerful state to avoid ‘state of nature’ (“Nasty, brutish and short”)

Hobbes’s belief on society?

‘Social contract theory’

Hobbes’s belief on the economy?

• Free-market

• Property ownership

Burke’s belief on human nature?

• “Little platoons'“

• Flawed

• Communal

Burke’s belief on the state?

• Pragmatic view

• “Ruling class is inevitable and desirable”

Burke’s belief on society?

• Organic

• “Ordered liberty”

• Wisdom from the past

Burke’s belief on the economy?

• Lassaiz-faire

• ‘Market settles’ when left alone

Oakeshott’s belief on human nature?

• Fallible but not terrible

• Rational but needs guidance

Oakeshott’s belief on the state?

• Rule of law

• Pragmatic

Oakeshott’s belief on society?

Can evolve whilst maintaining tradition

Oakeshott’s belief on the economy?

Free-markets are volitile and require state intervention

Rand’s belief on human nature?

• Objectivism

• Humans are rational and self-driven

Rand’s belief on the state?

• Against welfarism

• State should be minimised

Rand’s belief on society?

Atomistic (Individual is important)

Rand’s belief on the economy?

• Lassaiz-faire

• Property rights

Nozick’s belief on human nature?

• Egoistical

• Rational

• Self-aware

Nozick’s belief on the state?

• Taxation as ‘legalised theft’

• Minimised

Nozick’s belief on society?

Lots of small, variable communities

Nozick’s belief on the economy?

• No redistribution

• Little intervention