traditional conservatives

human nature

• Deeply influenced by Christian teachings of original sin and the fallibility of man, man is born imperfect and this fixed

• In a state of nature, human life would fall into constant conflict and competition for resources and power - this is because human nature is ‘nasty, brutish and short’ (Hobbes)

• Individuals are cynical - driven by desire for supremacy and security

• Human imperfection is psychological, moral and intellectual - politicians need to recognise and accommodate to this rather than seek to alter it

• Sceptical of unrealistically optimistic view of human nature after French Revolution -we may conceive of perfection but are unable to achieve it (Edmund Burke)

• Imperfections can be mitigated through influence of tradition and proper guidance - needs to come from established institutions + ‘little platoons’ such as families, local community, church etc

• These stabilise + give moral influence to individuals, as well as giving sense of security and belonging

• Without this, human imperfection has potential to become destructive

the state

• For conservatives, the main role of the state is to ensure security and safety - see it in preventative terms

• Prevent the bad instead of ensure the good (Oakeshott)

• Natural chaos stems from absence of formal authority, mankind was left to form its own version of acceptable conduct, yet since each persons view of this was varying, conflict and war was inevitable (Hobbes)

• Hobbes argues for the establishment of a strong central authority - a leviathan, to impose order and prevent descent into chaos

• This is because, due to the self interested nature of humans is prone to cause conflict, only a state can provide stability and security against this chaos

• Needs of the individual come secondary to states needs

• In this stable, hierarchical order, individuals can live safely

• Traditional conservatives comfortable with a openly elitist state, aligning with their defence of an unequal society

• In order to maintain peace, state power would have to be concentrated

• State should not be driven by normative ideals - empiricism instead emphasises the importance of experience, advocating for slow and cautious change that respects tradition (Oakeshott)

society

• Hobbes and Burke reject idea of ‘natural society’ that predates the state - given sceptical view of human nature, society cannot form until the state has provided law and order

• Once law and order collapse, individual freedom and respect for private property naturally disappear

• Society is seen as a combination of voluntary communities known as ‘little platoons’ - sense of security and purpose

• Has to be organic and can’t be planned or created - must only emerge organically and is held together by social norms

• Cultural pluralism is a threat to this social order, links to view on human nature which is too intellectually limited to deal with variety of values, can cause conflict

• The inequality of society is organic and natural, arises due to human differnces and individualism - any attempt to reconstruct society to make it more equal takes away liberty, which is undesirable

• In a society with different roles, classes etc, people need to understand their place to be content

• Tradition and paternalism ensures social stabilty in face of natural inequality

• Strong belief in tradition and ideas proven by experience rather than philosophy and unproven concepts

economy

• Support capitalism and have a firm belief in the ownership of private property

• Private property gives an individual a stake in society, without this the individual is not bound to social order and may cause chaos

• Partnership between living and the dead, something to be inherited - Burke

• Owners see property as something worth preserving, the state helps to preserve rights to property, avoids revolution

• Economy is entirely subordinate to needs of the state - is states tool to ensure order and stability

• Welfare not normally seen as an important area, duty of the individual to support the needy

• Trade should involve organic free markets and laissez-faire capitalism