Conservatism

What did Hobbes argue

What did Hobbes argue

That in absence of the state human life would be “solitary, poor nasty, brutish and short”

conflict inevitable without the state, leading to a support for a strong state that could provide order and security.

How did Hobbes view HN

Inherently self-interested and prone to conflict

What role does Hobbes have in conservatism

Traditional conservative

What is the Leviathan

Hobbes term for a sovereign authority which is essential to curb natural tendencies of humans towards disorder. Prevent chaos of state of nature.

What did Burke argue for

• preservation of tradition, hierarchy and a pragmatic response to change

• pragmatism as human imperfection is a reason change should not be entered into (reaction to france revolution)

Main ideas of traditional conservatives - Burke

• pragmatism - decisions not based on idealistic principles rather than accumulated knowledge throughout history, following what works (Burke)

• Changing to conserve (Burke) - careful and gradual reform to preserve essence of tradition

• property ownership is vital - discourages support for radical ideologies that upturn social order

• elites are natural leaders and other groups should accept their ability to lead in the best intrust of society

Burkes view on HN

• humans are intellectually imperfect and incapable of rational thought especially complex systems

• should be guided by the state

Trad. Con view on society

• It should be hirarchael, with elties being natural leaders.

• society emerges organically, development cannot be predicted but only responded to, gradual change.

• the way society is organised is because humans do not have the same abilities or talents and are differentiated by skill and ability, and salary is decided by the supply and demand of market.

Michael Oakeshott connection to trad con.

• pragmatism, political action guided by practical knowledge rather than theoretical abstracities

• a stance against the utopian views coming from communism and fascism

• acknowledgment of human intellectual imperfection

• state should secure and accommodate people, rather than change their imperfections

One nation main ideas

• paternalism - upper class moral responsibility to look after society (noblesse oblige)

• embrace reform in order to conserve

• changing to conserve - having to change due to the post war emerging problems (like needing housing)

• by adapting to changes brought by industrialization, it was a regonzation that to conserve conservatism it was necessary to adapt and respond.

One nation ideas - changing to conserve

• due to the inequalities of industrialization and capitalisation they needed to address it, otherwise socialism would grow, threatening revolution and a possible upturning of the hierarchy.

one nation ideas on society

• emphasised patriotism and the idea of a cohesive society by supporting idea everyone was together

• national unity and shared values essential

• bridge growing divide between classes

• preserve respect for social hierarchy

examples of one nation con in practice 19th century

• social reforms aimed at improving living conditions for the working class

  • Public Health Act 1875 improving public health conditions

  • Factory Act 1874 reduction of working for women and children and stricter factory regulations

• Disraeli introduced taxation, not progressive tho, more interventionist than other conservatives but not near as much as liberals or socialist.

• Second Reform Act 186 - expanding suffrage and allowing working men to vote (fall of hierarchy?)

  • but all to change in order to reduce likelihood of social unrest

examples of one nation con in practice

• pragmatic approach from PM Winston Churchill

  • accepted comprehensive welfare by labour, recognising it as important to ensuring social security

  • conservatives support for property meant they supported the building of 300k new homes from Churchill

  • reflects need for change to conserve

New right key ideas

• argued one nation had strayed too far from fundamental principals

• a mix of neo liberalisation and neo conservatism

• Thatcher

what is neo liberalisation

• advocate for minimal state intervention in economy, free market, individual enterprise

what is neo conservatism

• focuses on tradition values , strong law and order,

How new right differ from other con

• New Right see society as a collection of individuals with their own interests with the best outcome being possible when max freedom is allowed without excessive intervention.

  • unlike con where they support atomism over an organic society with and interconnected society where everyone plays a part.

• New right view that humans are rational beings in a meritocratic system where individuals succeed based off their own efforts and shouldn’t be interfered with

  • rejects idea of human imperfections and support for hierarchy and paternails,

neo liberalism ideas

• HN is rational and self seeking, Rand rejects idea of human imperfection

• society is atomistic, individual rights and freedom are more important that societal obligations and duties (Nozick and Rand)

• Individuals obligations should be to themselves rather than society (rand, Nozick)

• “roll back the state” in order to preserve freedom

• high tax infringes individual rights, and welfare creates decency culture (R,N)

• free market economy, negative freedom

• against nationalized industries

• Friedman argues Keynesian politics where inflationary, which reduced economic activity, advocated monetarism (control money supply via cuts in public spending)

• supports laissez faire capitalism

neo conservative ideas

• favor pragmatism over principle

• preserve traditional values - abolish abortion laws

• antipathy to gayness

• organic society based on Christian values and traditional marriage,

• anti permissiveness in society

• strict law and order to solve social instability and social disorder

Examples of neo liberalism in thatcher gov

• denationalization and deregulation

• reduce tax (83% income tax into 40%)

• Right to buy scheme, allowing council houses to be bought at discount price

  • in order to promote private property ownership and individuality, driven by freedom rather than social stability

Examples of neo conservatism in thatcher gov

• prioritize law and order

• curb social permissiveness through legislation like Section 28 which prohibited promotion oh homosexuality's at schools

Hobbes view on Human nature

• Humans are ruthless, competive and self acting, flawed

• need formal authority to prevent a nasty short brutish life

• does see rationality (unlike other thinkers)

Burkes views on HN

• humans are not rational

• humans are flawed

Oakeshott view on human nature